Capturing the significance of place in the lived experience of dementia

Abstract

In this article, the author reports on a study exploring the impact of an urban setting on the lived experience of dementia for older couples where one member of each couple was diagnosed with the illness over age 64, the other was the primary care partner, and both were residing together in the greater New York metropolitan area at the time of the research. Certain features of city living, such as accessible medical care, public transportation, and social services, are known to provide substantial instrumental and affective support during challenging times However, how dementia care partnerships transform other aspects of urban environments to their own individual and unpredictable advantage is less documented. By describing how older dementia-affected couples make use of informal features of place to meet complex needs, such as affirming couplehood and sustaining autonomy, the study uncovers links between place and quality of life with dementia. There are implications for dementia care and research. These include deepening understanding of the role of place in dementia, establishing knowledge of place as a component of cultural competence, and implementing policies that support place-based care. Moreover, findings propose pathways to greater inclusivity in knowledge building by promoting creative approaches to data collecting supported by naturalistic inquiry. By adopting a strength perspective and a person-inenvironment approach to service provision, social work practice, and research stand to make a difference in the lives of persons affected by dementia and those who care for them.