Interactive Narrative in Virtual Reminiscence Therapy to Stimulate Memory and Communication in People with Dementia
Pedro Reisinho, Rui Raposo, Nelson Zagalo, Óscar Manuel Ribeiro · 2024
The prevalence of dementia is a growing concern, affecting approximately fifty-seven million people worldwide, with projections indicating a rising incidence. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the lives of people with dementia in unforeseen ways, leading to higher social isolation and feelings of loneliness, as well as an increased manifestation of neuropsychiatric symptoms, producing uncertain implications for future epidemiological rates. These circumstances, coupled with an increasingly ageing population, amplifies the urgency of addressing the challenges associated with the syndrome. As a complementary non-pharmacological intervention for dementia management, we introduce the Virtual Reminiscence Model – a person-centered systematic approach to guide the design and development of autobiographical virtual storyworlds conducive to storytelling, with the objective of stimulating memory and communication, contributing to the preservation of the past and identity and to the attenuation of the loss of communication skills in people with dementia.