Rehabilitation playthings design to promote positive emotions among people living with Alzheimer’s disease: a conceptual synthesis

Purpose: Cognitive decline and social isolation pose significant challenges to the well-being of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While recreational activities and rehabilitation playthings (RPTs) have demonstrated benefits in fostering positive emotions among this population, there remains a scarcity of playthings specifically designed to address their unique needs. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework for RPTs design to enhance emotional well-being in people living with AD. Materials and Methods: Guided by research question construct classification, this study identified three key research questions. A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed to address these questions. Selected articles were evaluated based on their relevance to RPTs and their focus on improving social engagement and positive emotions in individuals with AD. Results: Through meticulous review and analysis, fifty-seven articles were selected and systematically categorized into sub-themes include: types of RPTs, meaningful activities associated with RPTs, design characteristics, and design principles and strategies. The results are further synthesized to formulate a potential theoretical proposition for future investigation. Conclusion: The proposed conceptual framework recommends that by integrating positive emotion design, compassionate design, co-creation, and suitable play experiences in RPTs design could preserve personhood and elicit positive emotions among people living with AD.

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