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A suite of evaluation resources for Dementia Friendly Communities: Development and guidance for use.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Lafortune, Louise 
Dickinson, Angela 
Killett, Anne 

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: In the context of a growing number of dementia friendly communities (DFCs) globally, a need remains for robust evaluation, and for tools to capture relevant evidence. This paper reports the development of a suite of evaluation resources for DFCs through a national study in England. METHODS: Fieldwork took place in six diverse case study sites across England. A mixed methods design was adopted that entailed documentary analysis, focus groups, interviews, observations, and a survey. Participants were people affected by dementia and practice-based stakeholders. A national stakeholder workshop was held to obtain input beyond the research sites. A workshop at the end of the study served to check the resonance of the findings and emerging outputs with stakeholders from the case study DFCs. RESULTS: The study had three key outputs for the evaluation of DFCs: First, an evaluation framework that highlights thematic areas to be considered in evaluating DFCs. Second, a Theory of Change that presents inputs into a DFC and short, medium and longer term outcomes. Third, a matrix for assessing a DFC's degree of maturity, which enables a sense of the kinds of outcomes a DFC might realistically aspire to. These three outputs form a suite of interlinking and complementary evaluation resources for DFCs. CONCLUSIONS: The study has contributed evidence-based resources for monitoring and evaluation that complement existing frameworks. They can be applied to arrive at a detailed assessment of how well a DFC works for people affected by dementia, and at insights into the underlying factors that can guide future policy and practice.

Description

Peer reviewed: True


Funder: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration East of England (ARC EoE)

Keywords

dementia friendly communities, evaluation, mixed methods, monitoring, people affected by dementia, Humans, Dementia, Focus Groups, Palliative Care, England

Journal Title

Dementia (London)

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1471-3012
1741-2684

Volume Title

21

Publisher

SAGE Publications
Sponsorship
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (PRP) (PR-R15-0116-21003)