The second phase of Memory-Friendly Neighbourhoods (MFN) was announced in February 2016.
In this phase, we are focusing on the ‘virtual neighbourhood’, looking at how people living with dementia use and navigate online environments.
The programme is based on our own experiences of setting up the MFN website and the lack of guidance we have found on internet accessibility for people living with dementia.
Context
Online access is becoming increasingly central to community participation for all of us.
For people living with dementia, it can be also be vital resource for accessing information about health, wellbeing and quality of life.
Poorly designed websites impact significantly on the reach and usefulness of online environments.
Statistically, we know that an increasing number of people with a dementia diagnosis will be drawn from ‘connected’ generations, which means that any accessibility issues left unidentified now will be amplified over the next few years.
Approach
Throughout this phase, which will run into late 2016, we will be using surveys and a ‘town hall meeting’ approach to engaging participants, from people who commission, design, build and maintain websites, to people whose lives are affected by dementia.
Our approach is designed to feed off, and into, the great work being done by a number of other projects across Scotland and the rest of the UK.
We will be asking questions such as:
- How much do you use the internet and what for?
- How easy do you find the internet to use?
- What changes would you make to improve your online experience?
You can complete our online survey at the following link.
The final stage of the project will see the co-designed redevelopment of the Memory-Friendly Neighbourhoods website as an example of dementia-friendly site design.
Get involved
If you would like to participate in this phase of Memory-Friendly Neighbourhoods, please let us know by emailing alastair@alastaircox.com. We would love to hear from you.
Acknowledgements
Our activities are supported by staff at the Scottish University Insights Institute, who assist with events co-ordination, and by the team at DementiaMap, who maintain our website and run our surveys.
Our partners include the Life Changes Trust, Age Scotland and East Dunbartonshire Council.