CIRCA-CA
Building a tool to support social connection in seniors with dementia
The Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid (CIRCA) is an interactive multi-media conversation support for people living with dementia and their caregivers. It includes a broad selection of of photographs, videos, and music to help spark for conversation and ease the difficulties of memory loss during the progression of dementia.
The earliest versions of CIRCA were developed by Dr. Arlene Astell and colleagues in the UK in 2001. Subsequent collaborations with researchers in Spain and Sweden helped produce more iterations and have helped gather data on the efficacy and usability of this platform. Previous studies with the program have demonstrated its capacity to improve cognition and quality of life in people living with dementia, as well as positive impacts on caregiving relationships.
We are currently developing CIRCA-CA to reflect the unique experiences of Canadian seniors. With the help from collaborators in Saskatchewan and BC, we are building to create a large database of content that will resonate with many Canadian seniors.
This two phase study is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (PHAC), the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) and the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI).
During the first phase (co-creation) we recruited participants without dementia to share their life stories and assist with suggestions on content to include in the platform. Recommendations such as notable celebrities (such as Elvis and Bing Crosby), events & royal visits quickly helped populate the platform.
The second phase of the study (implementation) will bring the final platform to the hands of seniors that attend day programs as well as those those who live in the community.
Juanita Atton, CIRCA-CA project coordinator
CIRCA-CA project coordinator, Juanita, manages the day-to-day operations of platform development and implementation. She is responsible for hosting local focus groups here in Ontario, managing team leads from all three provinces and helping to coordinate the implementation of the program within local community programs.
CIRCA is a great opportunity for seniors and their families to reconnect and learn more about each other in a fun and pressure-free environment.
In hosting a few of our local focus groups with seniors who volunteered to share their stories with us, I had the opportunity to witness first-hand the positive impact that reminiscing and bonding over shared experiences had on the participants.
I think it’s also a great project for younger generations to be able to learn about Canadian history. I know for a fact that our co-op students working on the project have learned a lot from listening to stories and helping to gather content for the platform.
I am so excited to roll-out the finalized platform within the coming months!
P.S. If you would like to get a sneak peak at CIRCA-CA before it launches to the public, join us at the AgeTech Innovation week Drinks & Demos reception October 24. Click here to learn more