Geurenpalet is a tool that enhances memories through scent, especially developed for people with dementia, to stimulate self-esteem, social interaction and remembrance.
Everyone knows this. You’re entering a room, you’re smelling something and suddenly you are back in the past. You are seeing images, you are hearing the sound, but you also feel the emotions that you felt on the moment that you’ve smelled the scent for the first time. This is called the Proust effect, after Louis Proust who had the same experience with a cookie and a cup of tea. Geurenpalet focusses exactly on this and enhances memories through scent, especially developed for people with dementia, to stimulate self-esteem, social interaction and remembrance. Geurenpalet is a personalised tool which can be ordered and personalised through an online system. The system will provide the user with related scents which are based on autobiographical and personal preferences. Once the pallet is ordered the tool can be used one on one with a family member or in a group setting, it can provide the caretakers to provide high quality and personal care.
Relevant literature and references
Creating Reciprocal Value Propositions – The case of the improvement of the quality of life of dementia patients and their caregivers – Elke den Ouden
Paper presented at the 4th World Conference on Design Research, Delft, October/November 2011.