Public awareness and better understanding of dementia by providing equal user-friendliness to heritage settings for people with dementia by creating supportive environments designed according to their needs

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Monika Sharma

Salford Institute of Dementia, UK

: Int J Ment Health Psychiatry

Abstract

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There are limited opportunities for people with dementia to visit heritage sites in UK. Research has shown the provision of appropriate support and attention to environmental factors may enable people with dementia and their care supporters to visit heritage sites, which in turn could not only provide valuable well-being and health benefits to the participants but also develop public awareness of dementia. The aim of this paper is to present the findings of research into how people with dementia living in the community can be supported to access heritage settings, using our work with the Sensory Palaces Program at Historic Royal Palace. This study aims to understand the views of people with dementia, their care supporters and staff on the value of visiting historic sites where the sessions are delivered. The evaluation uses a mixed methods approach, including ethnographic observations of sessions, structured observations of participants using dementia care mapping, pre and post session questionnaires and interviews with people living with dementia, their carers and session facilitators. The findings of this study suggest it is possible to create inclusive environments that accommodate the needs of people living with dementia, whilst providing a welcoming, stimulating experience and generating a sense of autonomy. Our work indicates that participating in a program delivered in a historic setting is highly valued by people with dementia and their family members. This paper identifies components of the program design that could be adapted to enable people with dementia to participate in heritage based activities and environments in other areas. This study is an exemplar for public awareness and better understanding of dementia.

Biography

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Monika Sharma has completed her PhD and is currently working at Salford Institute of Dementia. She has experience in conducting research that involves collecting, analyzing and integrating quantitative and qualitative research. She is an Architect and a Planner, with diverse research background, having studies researches on architecture design quality and its evaluation related to issues that affect older people and are especially important to people living with dementia. She was the lead with estates and the architects on the co-ordination and development of the Salford Institute of Dementia Hub project.

E-mail: M.Sharma@salford.ac.uk