Curious about what a Silent Disco is? Come find out! Put on a pair of headphones, turn up the tunes, and hit the dance floor!
The Silent Disco Project is an exploratory mixed-method study aimed at examining how silent disco parties can enhance happiness and well-being for residents in long-term care. Learn about the project, then experience it!
The IDEA lab utilized two key pieces of technology: wireless silent disco headphones and biosensor rings. The headphones enabled us to play music through separate audio channels—English disco music on one and Chinese classics on the other. The biosensor rings helped us collect physiological data. Over a 6-week period, we conducted ten 30-minute silent disco sessions. Baseline data were collected through questionnaires on technology acceptance, quality of life, and subjective happiness, as well as physiological data such as heart rate variability using the biosensor rings. Qualitative ethnographic observations and conversational interviews were conducted during and after each session, complemented by staff focus groups before and after the study. The silent disco parties were well received, with residents joyfully moving along with nostalgic disco music. Our findings consisted of silent disco parties contributing to addressing loneliness, enhancing social capacity and inclusivity, while promoting intergenerational togetherness.
UBC’s IDEA Lab brings diverse people together to contribute to Innovation in DEmentia care and Aging. They are an intergenerational community with shared values who innovate together towards improving dementia and older people care.
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