The perspective of people with dementia on enablement

Dementia is a public health priority. UK government policies stress the need to enable people with dementia to live well and enjoy wellbeing despite cognitive decline.

Health and Social Care Services are increasingly adopting the principle of enablement as a mechanism to support persons to live independently in the community.

A pilot study aims to explore factors which contribute to enablement from a person with dementia is led by Dr Pat Chung. This study is a collaboration between Canterbury Christ Church University, Ms Sam Dawson, a senior practitioner from the Medway Intake and Prevention and Enablement Service, and a Canterbury Christ Church University funded research assistant.

The findings will guide the development of future research which aims at investigating an enablement approach for assessment and intervention; and thus improve the wellbeing of people with dementia.

Data collection has now been completed. The initial findings were presented at the 2015 College of Occupational Therapy Conference. It is hoped that a paper will be submitted to a peer-review journal in 2016. Building on the findings of the study, Pat Chung is now working on submitting an external funding bid with external partners.