INCLUDE

The research project INCLUDE, funded by Deutsche Demenzhilfe – DZNE Stiftung für Forschung und Innovation, focuses on the perspective of people with dementia: together with DZNE Witten, people with dementia are engaged in co-research on how they orient themselves in cities, and on which spatial factors strengthen their self-confidence in finding their way independently. Based on the collected findings, the group is developing a tool that can be used when planning urban environments for people with dementia.

Overall, INCLUDE contributes to:

• understanding and drawing attention to the perspective of people living with dementia regarding wayfinding and spatial orientation in urban environments
• developing methodological insights about participatory co-research with people living with dementia
• and to developing next steps for research and practice, also in regard to the National Dementia Strategy, and research on dementia-sensitive environments.

The research project, led by Dr. Saskia Kuliga, and funded within the Innovative Minds program, is supported by the foundation Deutsche Demenzhilfe - DZNE-Stiftung für Forschung und Innovation im Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft e.V.. The project will be conducted at the DZNE in Witten. The project partners Dr. Jim Mann (Canada, researcher at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, on co-research with people living with dementia), Dr. PJ White (South East Technological University, Carlow) and Dr. Lilian Hung (University of British Columbia, Vancouver) support INCLUDE via interdisciplinary discussions.