Two papers about the IDoService project investigations have just been published and are available open access. As a reminder, this project aimed to support people living with mild dementia to better identify opportunities for participation in meaningful activities. The I Can Do Pathway (link to the online version) was developed to explore people’s strengths and preferences to offer concrete guidance about how to access these activities. The I Can Do Pathway was designed following inputs from various stakeholders collected first during interviews and focus groups, and next during co-design workshops. Details about these two research stages are shared in the two following open-access publications:
1. Tournier I, Orton L, Dening T, Ahmed A, Holthoff-Detto V, Niedderer K. An Investigation of the Wishes, Needs, Opportunities and Challenges of Accessing Meaningful Activities for People Living with Mild to Moderate Dementia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(7):5358. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075358 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 people living with mild to moderate dementia, familial and professional care partners, as well as 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.
2. Niedderer K, Tournier I, Orton L, Threlfall S. I Can Do: Co-Designing a Service with and for People with Dementia to Engage with Volunteering. Social Sciences. 2023; 12(6):364 https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060364 The initial data collection (see above) into opportunities and barriers in Greater Manchester provided key insights as a starting point for the service concept development. For its development, seven co-design workshops were held: two with people with dementia and five with carers and health, care and volunteer professionals. The outcome was the development of the concept and criteria of the I Can Do Pathway to support people with a dementia diagnosis in identifying their interests and strengths and to connect them with relevant volunteer opportunities. The article explains the transformative co-design process and its results, followed by a reflection of the insights of designing a new service within an existing service system.
More information: see https://www.mmu.ac.uk/research/research-centres/msarc/projects/idoservice
For any questions or suggestions contact Dr Isabelle Tournier by email: idoservice@mmu.ac.uk or Twitter (@idoservice4dem1). This project built on the work done in the MinD project, in which Alzheimer Europe was involved.