Using Walking Interviews to Enhance Research Relations with People with Dementia: Methodological Insights From an Empirical Study Conducted in England

ABSTRACT

Ethical research practice requires inclusionary approaches that enable people to contribute as fully as possible. Not enough is yet known about the impacts of dementia on daily life, however, people with dementia may find inclusion in research challenging, as the ‘cognitive load’ required may be overwhelming. When responding is difficult, others may contribute and the voice of people with dementia may be diminished. In this paper, the method of walking interviews is reflected on following a study that examined the acceptability and usefulness of Global Positions Systems (GPS). Attention is drawn to an observation of the contributions people with dementia made whilst out walking with the researchers. When out walking, people with dementia used the environment as sensory prompts to start conversations, and these discussions shaped research data, and enabled people with dementia to raise concerns about the impacts of dementia, their futures and what they feared for themselves and their families. The challenges that people with dementia faced in negotiating everyday practices were visible. The person with dementia showed the researcher around their neighbourhood, and this significantly changed the interview dynamic and positioned people with dementia as leading the interaction.

KEYWORDS:

• Dementia
• qualitative study
• walking interviews
• citizenship
• participation

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all the people with dementia and family carers who participated and advised on the study Using Global Positioning Systems for Safer Walking.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Tula Brannelly, Principal Academic, Bournemouth University, PhD. Tula has a longstanding interest in the experiences of people with dementia as a marginalised group and has applied ethics of care to understand more about how people are positioned in care processes.

Ruth Bartlett, Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton. PhD has been investigating issues related to citizenship with people with dementia and takes a disabilities and enablement approach to the support of people with dementia.

Additional information

Funding

‘Using GPS for Safer Walking’ study was funded by the Alzheimers Society, England, grant reference 235.