Living with dementia during COVID-19: a participatory examination of suburban neighbourhood access and place

<p dir="ltr">The World Health Organization identifies dementia as the leading cause of dependency and disability among older adults. Nearly 2/3 of people living with dementia in Canada live in community. Continued access to neighbourhoods and amenities has many benefits: improved mental/physical health, more social interaction, and sense of worth and dignity. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered our access to amenities, physical activity levels and social interactions, and it is more acute for people living with dementia – increased rates of social isolation, fear, and anxiety due to closure of social programs/activities, and interruptions in daily routines and social networks. COVID-19 has also disproportionately impacted our socio-spatial peripheries, prompting pleas to study the pandemic from these locations instead of city centres. This exploratory case study examines the mobility and socio-spatial caring relations of four community-dwelling people living with dementia in Oshawa, Canada (a suburban municipality east of Toronto) during the pandemic to understand wellbeing impacts, using multiple participatory methods. This paper documents their experiences, including changes in mobility practices/destinations, built/social environment barriers, impacts of pandemic restrictions on wellbeing and everyday practices, concern for/caring about others. We end with recommendations for land use, transportation, parks, and emergency planners and community program providers to build more dementia-inclusive communities.</p>