Physical Activity, Social Support, and the Effects of Dementia Caregiving: A Scoping Review

What is this Study about?

The purpose of this study is to understand family caregivers/care partners' experiences participating in physical activity and/or social support. Participants will be asked to share their experiences with physical activity and/or social support and how their experiences match those found in the scoping review by O'Neil, Fletcher, and Bryden. Community program providers will also be invited to participate and share their experiences providing programming for families. Data will be collected within an online focus-group. Results will help confirm if the current literature regarding physical activity and social support adequately represents the lived experiences of caregivers/care partners and community program providers.

What Will Happen in This Study?

All participants will be asked to complete the following:

~An informed consent form (5-10 minutes in length) completed online via Qualtrics or a paper copy via email

~A background questionnaire (10-15 minutes in length) completed online via Qualtrics or a paper copy via email

~A focus group conducted via Zoom or Microsoft Teams regarding your experience providing physical activity and/or social support programming to persons living with dementia and/or their family caregivers/care partners. The focus group will consist of 2-3 dementia caregivers and 2-3 community program (45-90 minutes in length)

Who is Eligible to Participate in this Study?

For community program providers to participate they must:

~Must be involved (i.e., within designing, implementing, or evaluating) programs for persons living with dementia and/or their family caregivers/care partners

~Be 18 years or older

~Understand the elements that comprise program(s) designed for persons living with dementia and/or their family caregivers/care partners. 

~Live and work within Ontario

~Speak English

For caregivers to participate they must:

~Be a family member or friend providing care to a person living with dementia OR were a caregiver to a person living with dementia within the past six months

~Be 18 year or older

~Be in some form of contact with the person living with dementia weekly

~Participate in some form of physical activity or social support weekly

~Live within Ontario

~Speak English

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Everyone considering participating in any activity is encouraged to speak with their own doctor or health-care team before participating in any activity that may impact their health or well-being.