Temporal aspects of walking in the neighbourhood for people living with dementia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A supportive neighbourhood environment can play an important role in fostering people with dementia in their independent mobility, everyday functioning, and social participation. Their lived experiences of walking in the neighbourhood can provide contextualised knowledge and understanding, which can inform policies and programs to support people with dementia to remain active, engaged and age in their homes and communities. This paper focuses on exploring the temporal aspects of the walking experiences of people with dementia in neighbourhoods and their strategies and approaches regarding the challenges and issues encountered. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study adopted qualitative methods with 26 participants in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Each participant with dementia (or dyad with care partner) took part in four interview sessions guided by multiple data collection methods: semi-structured sit-down interviews and walk-along interviews with concurrent photo and video documentation. Data analysis was conducted using reflexive thematic data analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were generated: 1) Recognizing Age Related Changes, 2) The Changed Reality of Walking while living with Dementia, 3) Social Changes in the Neighbourhood, and 4) Walking as Connecting with the Past. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The findings illustrate the processes in which the participants enacted physical and cognitive strategies to address the cognitive and functional changes taking place over time in their journey of living with dementia. Additionally, they demonstrate the value of recognition and association of places in the neighbourhood that contribute to a sense of belonging and comfort in the community.