Physical Activity for People with Dementia: Interviews and Survey data, 2021

Dementia Friendly Communities across England were asked to complete an online survey. The survey asked about the level and type of physical activity provision for people living with dementia and their family supporters in the community. Dementia Friendly Communities differ in their experience of offering physical activity, therefore three different case study sites across England were selected for further data collection. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with activity providers to further understand the facilitators and barriers to physical activity provision. Interviews and focus groups were also conducted with people living with dementia and their family supporters/carers to understand the lived experience of participating in physical activity.

The project used a mixed method approach to investigate the provision of physical activity (PA) for people with dementia in Dementia Friendly Communities (DFCs) in England. A national evaluation, the DEMCOM study, of DFCs identified different approaches to the provision of PA for people with dementia within DFCs. However, providers and users of PA were not included in the sample. The current project expands on the findings of the DEMCOM study surveying 30 DFCs across England to investigate the perceived opportunities and challenges of PA provision for people with dementia. Three DFCs with differing experiences of promoting PA were used as case studies to further examine the accessibility and equitability of PA. Interviews were undertaken with activity providers and people with dementia within these study sites to further understand the lived experience of participating in PA.

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