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Rememo: A Research-through-Design Inquiry Towards an AI-in-the-loop Therapist's Tool for Dementia Reminiscence

Celeste Seah, Yoke Chuan Lee, Jung-Joo Lee, Ching-Chiuan Yen, Clement Zheng

TL;DR

The Rememo system is contributed as a therapist's tool for personalized RT developed through sociotechnically-aware research-through-design and the implications of designing AI-enabled systems that respect the relational dynamics in care contexts are discussed.

Abstract

Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a common non-pharmacological intervention in dementia care. Recent technology-mediated interventions have largely focused on people with dementia through solutions that replace human facilitators with conversational agents. However, the relational work of facilitation is critical in the effectiveness of RT. Hence, we developed Rememo, a therapist-oriented tool that integrates Generative AI to support and enrich human facilitation in RT. Our tool aims to support the infrastructural and cultural challenges that therapists in Singapore face. In this research, we contribute the Rememo system as a therapist's tool for personalized RT developed through sociotechnically-aware research-through-design. Through studying this system in-situ, our research extends our understanding of human-AI collaboration for care work. We discuss the implications of designing AI-enabled systems that respect the relational dynamics in care contexts, and argue for a rethinking of synthetic imagery as a therapeutic support for memory rahter than a record of truth.

Rememo: A Research-through-Design Inquiry Towards an AI-in-the-loop Therapist's Tool for Dementia Reminiscence

TL;DR

The Rememo system is contributed as a therapist's tool for personalized RT developed through sociotechnically-aware research-through-design and the implications of designing AI-enabled systems that respect the relational dynamics in care contexts are discussed.

Abstract

Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a common non-pharmacological intervention in dementia care. Recent technology-mediated interventions have largely focused on people with dementia through solutions that replace human facilitators with conversational agents. However, the relational work of facilitation is critical in the effectiveness of RT. Hence, we developed Rememo, a therapist-oriented tool that integrates Generative AI to support and enrich human facilitation in RT. Our tool aims to support the infrastructural and cultural challenges that therapists in Singapore face. In this research, we contribute the Rememo system as a therapist's tool for personalized RT developed through sociotechnically-aware research-through-design. Through studying this system in-situ, our research extends our understanding of human-AI collaboration for care work. We discuss the implications of designing AI-enabled systems that respect the relational dynamics in care contexts, and argue for a rethinking of synthetic imagery as a therapeutic support for memory rahter than a record of truth.
Paper Structure (41 sections, 18 figures, 2 tables)

This paper contains 41 sections, 18 figures, 2 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Motivation
  3. Background
  4. Cognition & memories
  5. Reminiscence therapy
  6. Labor Realities of Care Work
  7. Related work
  8. Technologies for RT
  9. Therapy facilitation as a human practice
  10. Point of departure
  11. Research-through-Design process
  12. Contextual inquiry
  13. Who is the user?
  14. RT as a fluid practice
  15. From Device to Tools
  16. ...and 26 more sections

Figures (18)

  • Figure 1: Increase in number of relevant studies in 2019 and 2024, with recent growth focusing on conversational agent approaches
  • Figure 2: Timeline of RtD process of contextual inquiry, system design and AI integration culminating in a pilot study spanning over two years
  • Figure 3: Sketches from field observations of staff and seniors at various care facilities
  • Figure 4: Service blueprint of current RT workflow
  • Figure 5: (Left) Therapy support associate places Who, What, Where, When cards on labeled shelves on Prototype 2 during a session with seniors. (Right) Picture cards for story sequencing cognitive test
  • ...and 13 more figures