Protocol for A Mixed-Methods Study: Dementia-Inclusive Streets and Community Access, Participation, and Engagement (DemSCAPE)

Abstract

Neighbourhoods are known to help maintain functional abilities and enable out-of-home activities and social participation for people living with dementia. Dementia friendly and inclusive communities (DFC) frameworks recognize the importance of developing supportive and empowering environments for people living with dementia and their families. Beyond the core objective of raising awareness and eliminating stigma associated with dementia, most DFC frameworks also focus on improving accessibility and navigability in the neighbourhood environment. Limited research on this topic points to the importance of evidence-based design of the neighbourhood built environment to promote mobility and wayfinding, legibility, familiarity, and safety for people living with dementia. Increased relevance of DFCs for policy and practice calls for expanding this body of knowledge. The proposed study, titled “Dementia-inclusive Spaces for Community Access, Participation, and Engagement (DemSCAPE),” focuses on identifying neighbourhood destinations considered important by people living with dementia, as well as neighbourhood built environmental features relevant for their outdoor mobility, engagement, and social participation. This study protocol paper offers key information on 1) the need for mixed methods research on this topic and its theoretical and methodological underpinnings, 2) study sampling and recruitment strategy, 3) data collection methods, which include a series of structured and semi-structured sit-down interviews and a walk-along interview, 4) procedure for data analysis, 5) ethical and methodological considerations, and 6) measures taken to enhance study rigour.