Singapore residents with dementia could soon be reminded of some of their memories with help from a digital app developed by a group of museums in England, under an agreement inked yesterday (29 April).
The My House of Memories app is designed to be easy to use, with moving icons and animations used to reorient persons with dementia. Built by National Museums Liverpool, it stores visuals of hundreds of social history objects from museum collections to elicit memories in dementia patients.
Likewise, the upcoming Singapore version of the app will feature curated objects and photographs from the Republic’s National Collection, managed by the National Heritage Board (NHB).
“NHB is working on making our museums and heritage more accessible to the underserved communities, including seniors and persons with dementia,” NHB chief executive Chang Hwee Nee said.
The Singapore version of the app will first be developed in English and made publicly available by the end of next year (2020) after a pilot with dementia patients, healthcare professionals and caregivers at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. The app will then be available in Malay, Mandarin and Tamil in a few years.
With over 12,000 people using the app in Britain and the United States, National Museums Liverpool’s director of engagement Carol Rogers has come across success stories where the app has helped to improve patients’ well-being.
The tie-up is part of NHB’s Silver Hubs initiative, which is aimed at making museums and heritage institutions more accessible to seniors.
British Council director Mei-kwei Barker said the MOU affirms both countries’ shared commitment to enhancing well-being and access to arts and heritage.
Read more here.
Source: The Straits Times, 30 April 2019