Using ecological theory to manage behaviour and symptoms in people living with dementia: a transdisciplinary approach to design

ABSTRACT Perception is a primary role of cognition, and perception itself changes with dementia. Behaviour changes also, because people respond to what they percieve. A transdisciplinary. approachmethod of transgressing disciplinary boundaries to integrate understandings from the sciences, medicine, the caring professions, the arts, indigenous perspectives and the perspectives of the people living with dementia (PLWD) themselves. A key is found in the ecological theories of perception, which in themselves fill an uncertain space between the disciplines. The theories promise to mitigate the symptomatology of dementia, problematic behaviour and improve the sense of wellbeing for PLWD passively and non-invasively, if only carers of PLWD were to use them.