Their Needs Towards Dementia-Friendly Community From the Perspectives of People Living with Dementia:

an Ethnographic Study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to insight their culture was organized people living with dementia spending at a community-based day care facility in Japan and to understand their needs towards dementia-friendly community from the perspectives of people living with dementia. This ethnographic study was conducted at Facility C in Japan, a community-based day care facility promoting and developing dementia-friendly community. The survey period was from June 2018 to July 2019. Data collection included participant observations (approximately 162 hours) and from ethnographic interviews with 10 people living with dementia and were analyzed using Spradley’s (2010) developmental research sequence. The six categories as their needs towards dementia-friendly communities from the perspectives of people living with dementia emerged from this study. Among them, “respect for decision-making,” “respect for roles based on individual strengths,” “ respect for independence that grows out of equal relationships,” and “diverse interactions with the local community” showed the same context as necessary implementation for DFC suggested by the previous study. In addition, this study, “a place where people with dementia can create with other people with dementia” and “temporary release from family ties” were newly emerged as people living with dementia’ needs against for DFC. The findings of this study will promote understanding of the strengths of people with dementia and their needs to nursing professionals working in various communities, including social services, healthcare, and the community care, and will contribute to the development of assessment, intervention, and evaluation in dementia care and nursing practice.