Health promotion initiative: A dementia-friendly local community in Sweden. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Odzakovic, Elzana; Hellström, Ingrid; Nedlund, Ann-Charlotte; Kullberg, Agneta
• Is Part Of: Dementia. Volume 20:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 1971
• Page End: 1987
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: public health -- dementia -- experiences -- health promotion -- dementia-friendly community -- qualitative interviews -- awareness; Psychiatric social work -- Periodicals; Social work with older people -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; 362.19683005
• DOI: 10.1177/1471301220977736
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-3012

Abstract

Dementia is a great public health concern worldwide. Despite this, little is known from a health-promoting perspective about dementia in general as a public health issue, in dialog with people living with dementia, applicable at individual, group, and societal levels with regard to policies and practice. This study therefore aims to explore the experiences related to living with dementia in the local community by advancing a health-promoting perspective. Semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted with participants ( n = 22) with lived, professional, and personal experiences of dementia living in a medium-sized municipality in Sweden. Transcripts were analyzed by thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: health promotion through knowledge and public awareness, health promotion through opportunities to be active, health promotion through meaningful meeting places, and health promotion through improvements in the welfare system. We found that more knowledge and public awareness about dementia are needed to advance a health-promoting perspective and increase the prominence of dementia as a public health issue. Further research and policy need to focus more on how professionals in dementia care practice could be involved in promoting health and well-being for people with dementia.