JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The number of people in society living with Dementia is growing. In Canada, most people who live with dementia live at home, often in a neighbourhood setting. Neighbourhood environments can be source of independence, social engagement, and well-being, but can also contain barriers that limit physical activity, social engagement, and well-being. A dementia-friendly neighbourhood includes assets that support persons living with dementia and their caregivers in multiple life domains, including those that support walking within the neighbourhood environment.

Objective:

The first objective for our scoping review is to extend scholarly understandings of methodological practices for using walkshed analysis in the monitoring and evaluation of dementia-friendly neighbourhoods. The second objective is to provide clear and practical guidance for those working in planning, design, and public health fields to assess the neighbourhood context in support of evidence-based action to improve the lives of PLWD.

Methods:

The study design follow’s Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework and PRISMA-P guidelines. A search of peer-reviewed studies in six electronic databases will be conducted to identify the use of GIS analysis to measure the walkshed of persons living with dementia in a community setting. Data will be extracted, analyzed and represented according to three domains, including study details, walkshed analysis methods, and criteria and indicators used to measure dementia-friendly neighbourhoods.

Results:

Results of the review are expected to contribute understanding of methods for monitoring and evaluation of dementia friendly neighbourhoods.

Conclusions:

Both the scalability and objective nature of walkshed analysis are likely to be of direct interest to public health practitioners and planning and allied professionals.