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Community‐based arts have the potential to offer multiple benefits to people living with dementia; however, the level of uptake of these activities is unclear. This study sought to examine the perspectives of key stakeholders: the presenting artists and those who are responsible for planning art activities within the context of community to examine opportunities for and barriers to participation of people living with dementia in community‐based art activities. Inductive thematic analysis approach of Braun and Clarke (2006) was applied to identify, analyse, and report themes from the semistructured interviews with artists and art planners. Important factors to be taken into account when delivering community‐based art activities inclusive of people living with dementia arose under three major themes: perceptions and knowledge of dementia, the inherently inclusive qualities of arts, and practical approaches to delivery of the activity. Both artists and art planners felt that understanding motivations and expectations, effective communication, access, and support for both themselves and people with dementia were crucial factors to create and deliver dementia inclusive arts in the context of community. Both artists and art planners believed that community‐based art activities can be inclusive of people living with dementia. Changes in design, delivery mode, communication, and access to the activities might empower this group of people to take part in such activities in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory descriptive study investigated barriers and enablers to the provision of leisure activities for people living in three Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs) that operated under a household model of care. This research is unique in the international context, as few studies have explored the understandings and experiences of personal care attendants' (PCAs) perceptions of what impacts leisure provision for people living in RACFs. Qualitative data were collected from 17 PCAs via four focus groups. Barriers to leisure provision were identified as PCA–resident ratios, competing demands of the PCA role and a prioritisation of physical care tasks over leisure-related activities. The severity of residents' dementia (cognitive and functional deficits) as well as behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia were also framed as barriers to participation in and the provision of leisure. Participants identified enablers of leisure provision as related to perceptions of leisure, the experiential knowledge of staff, organisational support and resourcing. The study findings suggest that enhancing leisure provision for people living with dementia will require attention to system issues (i.e. staffing levels, ratios, PCA role demands) as well as PCA knowledge and capability to facilitate person-centred leisure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviours is pivotal to chronic disease self-management as this influences disease progression and impact. This qualitative study investigated health behaviour changes adopted by participants with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) recruited to a randomised controlled study of telephone-delivered health-mentoring. Methods Community nurses trained as health-mentors used a patient-centred approach with COPD patients recruited in general practice to facilitate behaviour change, using a framework of health behaviours; ‘SNAPPS’ Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol, Physical activity, Psychosocial well-being, and Symptom management, through regular phone calls over 12 months. Semi-structured interviews in a purposive sample sought feedback on mentoring and behaviour changes adopted. Interviews were analysed using iterative thematic and interpretative content approaches by two investigators. Results Of 90 participants allocated to health-mentoring, 65 (72%) were invited for interview at 12-month follow up. The 44 interviewees, 75% with moderate COPD, had a median of 13 mentor contacts over 12 months, range 5–20. Interviewed participants (n = 44, 55% male, 43% current smokers, 75% moderate COPD) were representative of the total group with a mean age 65 years while 82% had at least one additional co-morbid chronic condition. Telephone delivery was highly acceptable and enabled good rapport. Participants rated ‘being listened to by a caring health professional’ as very valuable. Three participant groups were identified by attitude to health behaviour change: 14 (32%) actively making changes; 18 (41%) open to and making some changes and 12 (27%) more resistant to change. COPD severity or current smoking status was not related to group category. Mentoring increased awareness of COPD effects, helping develop and personalise behaviour change strategies, even by those not actively making changes. Physical activity was targeted by 43 (98%) participants and smoking by 14 (74%) current smokers with 21% reporting quitting. Motivation to maintain changes was increased by mentor support. Conclusions Telephone delivery of health-mentoring is feasible and acceptable to people with COPD in primary care. Health behaviours targeted by this population, mostly with moderate disease, were mainly physical activity and smoking reduction or cessation. Health-mentoring increased motivation and assisted people to develop strategies for making and sustaining beneficial change. Trial registration ACTR12608000112368

The article discusses the impact of dementia on individuals, families and communities has far-ranging. Topics include Stigma and fear has contributed to isolation of living with the impact of the condition, resulting in subsequent invisibility in the community; and the notion of a community café pilot project has developed, based on the successful death café model.