Using Delphi Technique to Develop a Shared Vision for Dementia-Friendly Singapore

Abstract

Dementia-friendly communities are a key strategy in the Dementia-Friendly Singapore initiative, which aims to engage, empower, and enable people living with dementia to continue to live well within their communities. Even though the creation of dementia-friendly communities emphasizes stakeholder and community involvement, there is little evidence about what opportunities and options are important to the community. The aim of this study was to explore community priorities for achieving dementia-friendly Singapore. A Delphi survey method was utilized in a study of 25 community stakeholders to clarify community opinion about the definition and development pathway of dementia-friendly communities in Singapore. The findings revealed the importance of acceptance and normalization, support network, dementia health promotion and prevention, resources, services, and infrastructure for people living with dementia and caregivers in a dementia-friendly Singapore.

Keywords:

• Community stakeholders
• Delphi-research
• dementia-friendly communities
• Singapore

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC): Dr. Tan Weng Mooi, See Yen Theng, Carol Yeung, Chua Jie Min, Luo Danlin, and its dementia-friendly community team as well as community partners for their support and assistance with participant recruitment. We also acknowledge our colleague, Anna Dieterich’s help with data analysis.

Additional information

Funding

The project is funded by the Agency for Integrated Care and the Lee Li Ming Progamme in Aging Urbanism, Lee Kuan Yew Center for Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology and Design.