Title: Remembering Yesterday
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: The key objective for this 12 month period is to create and test a prototype of "Remembering Yesterday" - a unique co-designed life-logging product, which will support older people with their ability to recall recent events. Remembering Yesterday will be a user-friendly and well-supported tool, which enables older people to log, curate and review their day-to-day experiences, through words, pictures and memorabilia (eg tickets). Critically and innovatively, the focus is on making new memories rather than reminiscing on old ones. In addition to supporting memory, this tool provides the opportunity for people to write about and reflect on their daily experiences, which has been found to have a positive effect on physical and mental wellbeing. This grant will allow me to determine the exact nature of this tool, establish proof-of-concept and carry out the ground-work necessary for driving this forward on a large scale. By the end of the grant period, I expect to have a Proof of Concept and prototype of a tool that supports people of 60+ in remembering recent everyday events. Interim objectives will be to (1) Obtain insights into feasibility, desirability and viability of this prototype through an initial focus group and large scale survey (2) Obtain insights into the subjective experience of everyday memory function in relation to a range of key demographics (3) Co-design a first and second prototype with a user group, a research assistant and a UX designer (4) Test the first prototype through a single case study and focus group (5) Test the second prototype in the field with 10 participants and through feedback in large scale survey (6) Obtain data on the effectiveness of regular active consolidation in older adults

Lay abstract: We grow up in a world where forgetfulness is seen as an inevitable consequence of ageing. Research shows that although this needn't be a foregone conclusion, it is something that is experienced by many older people. Memory loss is widely feared, which is hardly surprising given that our memories make us who we are. Being able to recall conversations or shared experiences is what cements our friendships. Remembering what has happened in the past guides us to make decisions about the future. There are numerous reminiscence activities, apps and interventions available to support older people in recollecting the distant past, but memory for recent events ("short-term memory") has largely been neglected. When people struggle to recall recent events, it can severely disrupt social connections even with close family and may discourage people from having conversations or meeting up, as well as impacting on important decisions. My research has shown that active consolidation (for example diary-writing, photo-logging) can significantly improve memory for recent past, and that this in turn significantly impacts on quality of life. However, this is time consuming and impractical for many people, especially older people who typically have less technical know-how. This project proposes the development of a user-friendly system that supports active consolidation of new memories. My vision is that this will become like a pair of spectacles - something that people use as a matter of course, without fear, embarrassment or extensive effort, and because it significantly improves their day-to-day life.

Research activity codes: 7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH