Confronting the transition: Improving quality of life for the elderly with an interactive multisensory environment-A case study

Abstract

Continuing developments in medical science are leading to a general increase in length of life. These have been accompanied by an increase in disabilities and diseases associated with ageing and the quality of life for the old and older old can be seen often to decline progressively. An interactive multisensory environment (iMUSE) has been developed, together with a particular methodology - vibroacoustic sound therapy - (VAST), to offer the possibility of amelioration for some of these conditions with the aim of providing the opportunity for an improvement of well-being for some elderly and older old people. This paper describes the development of this environment, its modus operandi, and concludes with a case study of an elderly frail man who provides a model for the application of iMUSE in care homes for the elderly frail and mentally infirm. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.