Armstrong Letrondo, Pilar Ariana; (2024) Arts, culture, and heritage for people affected by dementia: developing a guidebook for dementia inclusive programming. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: This thesis explored arts, culture, and heritage interventions and programmes for people living with dementia and their informal carers. Existing literature and resources were narrow in their focus and unable to provide a clear understanding of key components of interventions and programmes for people affected by dementia. METHODS: I systematically reviewed arts, culture, and heritage interventions for people living with dementia and their informal carers, exploring the impact on the cognition of people living with dementia as well as the well-being of people affected by dementia. In a grey literature review, I assessed how these interventions or programmes are implemented and evaluated to identify gaps between research and the work done by the arts and culture sector. In a qualitative study, I explored the wants and needs of people affected by dementia for dementia programming, as well as views of arts and culture organisations. Finally, I took the findings of this study and the two reviews and created a guidebook to support arts and culture organisations in developing, implementing, and evaluating programmes for people affected by dementia. RESULTS: Arts and culture programmes positively impacted the well-being of people affected by dementia and the cognition of people living with dementia. Work done in the arts and culture sector is only partially reflected in research; future collaboration and co-production practices may help researchers and organisations to understand and achieve these positive well-being and cognitive outcomes. The findings of my qualitative study suggested that the people affected by dementia and organisations all value a person-centred approach to programming, including co-production and fostering connections between individuals and organisations. DISCUSSION: Arts, culture, and heritage programmes for people affected by dementia can help people live well. My guidebook provided actionable recommendations for arts and culture organisations to help them develop programmes and become dementia inclusive.

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