Launched by Lien Foundation, a Singapore-based philanthropic organisation, Hack Care is a catalogue of DIY hacks to help people living with dementia and their caregivers. “As part of our unique brand of ‘radical philanthropy’ we pioneer and propagate solutions that attempt to tackle the root of problems in eldercare and early childhood development in Singapore,” reads part of Lien Foundation’s profile. The foundation put together a team consisting of Lekker Architects and Lanzavecchia + Wai Design Studio, who combined design thinking and scientific research to provide a person-centred care plan.

Lekker Architects’ Ong Ker-Shing drew from her personal experiences, having witnessed her father’s fight with dementia for over a decade. She says, “At home, we observed how my father was incredibly responsive to changes in his environment, and more importantly, that the manipulation of this environment was really in the hands of us, his family, and not so much in the hands of architects and designers. The experience of hacking living spaces is common for caregivers, and Hack Care features both practical insights, provocations and tips for non designers to think like designers.”

The publication resembles an IKEA catalogue, with over 50 simple tricks to make furniture more comfortable or approachable for patients living at home with dementia, and for their caregivers. Take for example the simple act of standing-to-sitting, and vice versa, which can be a real obstacle for many seniors. Minor adjustments – like a grab support or a more upright sitting height – can help to mitigate this transition. With this in mind, the popular POÄNG chair is hacked to fit modified handles and supports to make it easier for elderly users to sit down and stand up independently.

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