Using creative, sensory and embodied research methods when working with people with dementia: a method story

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Dementia Studies
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Conventional research methods often exclude individuals with dementia due to ethical concerns and reliance on recall.
• Traditional methods focusing on verbal expression limit participation for people with cognitive impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the significance of clothing for people with dementia living in a care home.
• To present a "method story" detailing innovative research approaches for studying dementia.
• To demonstrate the utility of arts-based and design-led practices in dementia research.

Main Methods:

• Employed creative, sensory, and embodied research techniques.
• Utilized three interlinked cycles of study within a care home setting.
• Incorporated arts-based and design-led practices to facilitate expression.

Main Results:

• Creative and sensory methods enabled greater engagement from people with dementia.
• These approaches supported imaginative, spontaneous, and flexible participation.
• Novel methods provided expressive capacities beyond traditional techniques.

Conclusions:

• Creative, sensory, and embodied approaches are effective for researching the lived experiences of people with dementia.
• Novel research methods enhance participation and yield richer data in dementia studies.
• Arts-based and design-led practices offer valuable alternatives for exploring dementia.