Exploring the ‘active mechanisms’ for engaging rural-dwelling older men with dementia in a community technological initiative

Abstract

Research has suggested ecopsychosocial initiatives can promote a sense of wellbeing and inclusion in people with dementia. However, few studies have elucidated the ‘active mechanisms’ whereby such initiatives can achieve these outcomes, so hindering their generalisability. This is particularly pertinent when seeking to support community-dwelling older men with dementia who are reluctant to engage with traditional health and social care initiatives. This paper reports on a study that drew from the principles of Participatory Action Research to explore the ‘active mechanisms’ of a technological initiative for older men (65+ years) with dementia in rural England. An individually tailored, male-only initiative, using off-the-shelf computer game technology (e.g. iPad, Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Kinect) was delivered over a nine-week period. Multiple qualitative methods were employed, including: focus groups, open interviews and extensive reflective field notes, to gather data from the perspective of 22 men, 15 care partners and five community volunteers. The data were analysed thematically and interpreted using a masculinity lens. Three mechanisms contributed to the initiative's success: the use of the technology, the male-only environment and the empowering approach adopted. The paper argues that initiatives aimed at community-dwelling older men with dementia would be advised to consider these gendered experiences and ensure participants can maximise their masculine capital when participating in them, by providing enabling activities, non-threatening environments and empowering approaches of delivery.

The use of everyday technologies to enhance well-being and enjoyment for people living with dementia: A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis

“…smartphones and tablets), some specially adapted for older people ( n = 2; see Alm et al., 2009; Lazar et al., 2016). Two studies evaluated gaming consoles alongside touchscreen technology (Cutler et al., 2016; Hicks, 2016). One study did not employ a specific intervention and instead explored naturalistic use of ET (Hedman et al., 2016).…”

Experiences of rural life among community-dwelling older men with dementia and their implications for social inclusion

“…Whilst this may have restricted some of the conversations about the rural landscape, it was important that these wishes were upheld so as to ensure a moral sensitivity (Heggestad, Nortvedt, & Slettebø, 2013) to the research participants. In a further attempt to elicit more insightful discussions with the men, all of the interviews were conducted after the lead author had been working alongside them for a period of ten weeks, whilst delivering a male-only technological initiative that was part of a wider study seeking to promote social inclusion in rural-dwelling older men with dementia (Hicks, Innes, & Nyman, 2019). This initiative used gaming technology such as iPads, Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Kinect as a medium to facilitate conversations about the men's lives, interests and aspirations, and through this generate a sense of solidarity amongst the group (including with the lead researcher).…”

“…Consequently, there is a need to better understand how community-based rural dementia activities can be tailored towards the interests of older men with dementia and re-invigorate their lust for life. It is likely this will be achieved through examining the 'active mechanisms' (Dugmore, Orrell, and Spector, 2015) that can appeal to and promote the social inclusion of older men with dementia (Hicks, Innes, and Nyman, 2019).…”

“…This paper outlines a descriptive qualitative study, situated within a wider project that drew on the principles of Participatory Action Research (Schneider, 2012) to address the issue of social exclusion for rural-dwelling older men with dementia within an English county through a technological initiative (see Hicks, 2016). The data presented below were collected during face-to-face interviews with the men conducted after the initiative had been delivered.…”

“…When conducting research on ‘social inclusion’, there is often a lack of consensus on what it constitutes (Davey & Gordon, 2017; Taket et al., 2014); thereby influencing how it is communicated as well as how it can be measured (Simplican, Leader, Kosciulek, & Leahy, 2015). As such, to operationalise social inclusion for the present study a succinct review of the disability and dementia literature was undertaken (see Hicks, 2016). This emphasised the need to understand social inclusion as a dynamic process rather than a static outcome, whereby people with dementia have the economic and material means to be included within all aspects of their communities as well as the agency and unconditional opportunity to access, participate in, and personally grow from, social and cultural experiences and inter-personal relationships that are meaningful to them and where they feel valued.…”