Dementia-friendly community indicators from the perspectives of people living with dementia and dementia-family caregivers

Aims: To identify dementia-friendly communities’ indicators and their current conditions in Taiwan from the perspectives of people with dementia and dementia-family caregivers. Design: This qualitative study explored the opinions and experiences of people with dementia and dementia-family caregivers regarding dementia-friendly communities. Methods: Participants (16 people with dementia and 20 family caregivers) were recruited from neurological clinics, day care centres for people with dementia and support groups for family caregivers in the Taipei community from July - October, 2016. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews, which were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed by Miles and Huberman's (1994) guidelines. Results: Similar indicators for dementia-friendly communities were identified in Taiwan as in other countries, including dementia-friendly care services, dementia-friendly hospitals, dementia-friendly community environment, dementia-friendly transportation, dementia-friendly stores and shops, dementia friendly people, integrated dementia-related information and community contribution- and -involvement opportunities for people with dementia. However, Taiwanese people with dementia and family caregivers described no emphasis on the potential of people with dementia to contribute to developing dementia-friendly communities and more top-down expectations for the government's role. Conclusion: These indicators can be a guide for developing and evaluating dementia-friendly communities in Taiwan. Differences between Taiwan and Western developed countries in indicators for dementia-friendly communities can be further explored. Community nursing assessment, interventions, and evaluation based on these dementia-friendly communities indicators can be further developed. Impact: This study developed indicators for dementia-friendly communities in an Asian country. These indicators can be used as a guide for developing and evaluating dementia-friendly communities.