Work

Community stakeholder perspectives on the socio‐spatial rights of people living with dementia and caregivers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The majority of people living with dementia and their caregivers live in their communities where, due to largely inaccessible public spaces and activities, they are at risk of experiencing socio-spatial exclusion. A lack of access to the built environment impacts their opportunities for social connection, their potential for social health, and the achievement of health equity. To address the socio-spatial exclusion of people living with dementia and caregivers, dementia-friendly communities have been established worldwide. Dementia-friendly communities often consider the rights of people living with dementia and caregivers; however, few are considered genuine rights-based environments, and none specifically address socio-spatial rights. This has implications for planning policy and practice in terms of ensuring socio-spatial justice for people living with dementia and their caregivers. METHOD: Using a rights-based conceptual framework, this study aimed to identify community stakeholder perspectives on the rights of people living with dementia and carergivers to participate in decision-making, to be included in, and to access public spaces and social activities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen representatives of community stakeholder organisations and groups from a large non-metropolitan region in Victoria, Australia. RESULT: Findings identified that socio-spatial rights are facilitated by healthcare organisations and community groups which acknowledge the personhood of people living with dementia. The facilitation of socio-spatial rights, however, is impeded by the absence of people living with dementia from local government decision-making processes. Stigma associated with dementia was also identified as a barrier to achieving socio-spatial justice, as were local government priorities. Not recognising dementia as a disability, a lack of dementia awareness, and the absence of dementia-inclusive legislation and policy were also impediments. CONCLUSION: The recognition of dementia as a disability, dementia education, and dementia-inclusive legislation and policies are critical to establishing genuine rights-based dementia-friendly communities, where socio-spatial justice, social health and health equity can be achieved.

Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia

DOI: 10.1002/alz70858_098282

Authors: Carmela Leone, Rachel Winterton, Irene Darmadi Blackberry

Institution: La Trobe University

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being, Sustainable cities and communities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,200