An Investigation of the Wishes, Needs, Opportunities and Challenges of Accessing Meaningful Activities for People Living with Mild to Moderate Dementia

Isabelle Tournier (), Laura Orton, Tom Dening, Anya Ahmed, Vjera Holthoff-Detto and Kristina Niedderer
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Isabelle Tournier: Department of Design, Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BR, UK
Laura Orton: Department of Design, Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BR, UK
Tom Dening: Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
Anya Ahmed: Department of Social Care and Social Work, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6GX, UK
Vjera Holthoff-Detto: Alexianer Krankenhaus Hedwigshöhe, 12526 Berlin, Germany
Kristina Niedderer: Department of Design, Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BR, UK

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: Many people are keen to be actively involved in social life and activities, but even at an early stage, dementia can have a negative impact on social participation and access to leisure activities. As part of the IDoService project, this study has investigated people’s needs and wishes, barriers and facilitators to identify opportunities for improving access to meaningful activities. Individual and focus group interviews were conducted with 5 people living with mild to moderate dementia, 2 familial and 2 professional care partners, as well as 12 people working in the field of dementia and/or community activities. Thematic analysis has highlighted the benefits of participating in meaningful activities, such as empowerment and pride, social contacts, and feeling useful to others. A number of barriers to participation relating to individual and environmental factors were reported. Even where participants praised dementia-friendly activities and facilities, they advocated activities inclusive for all and mentioned that some people might be reluctant to participate in dementia-labelled activities because they may not be suitable for their needs. These results indicate the need for developing tailored opportunities for people with mild to moderate dementia and provide valuable insights for researchers, service providers, policymakers and charities wanting to improve access.

Keywords: mild dementia; moderate dementia; meaningful activities; social participation; empowerment; needs; preferences; barriers; facilitators; services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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