Dementia and Dress

Methods: Data collection methods included qualitative interviews, 'wardrobe interviews', observations and visual and sensory approaches. Visual and sensory techniques included using photograph albums, samples of fabric, clothing and accessories to facilitate interview discussions and reminiscence groups. ‘Wardrobe interviews’ were also conducted - interviewing with people with dementia alongside their wardrobes, and using the clothes as visual and sensory prompts. In domestic households, these generally took place as joint interviews with family carers. Twenty three participants took part in the wardrobe interviews – nine were unable to participate in these because of their more advanced level of dementia. Data was also gathered using observations and informal discussions (which were not audio-recorded and transcribed), which facilitated the inclusion of participants with more advanced dementia or verbal impairment. These observations were qualitative and unstructured, taking place in the public areas of the care homes, and incidentally during visits to domestic settings. Qualitative interviews were also conducted with family carers and care home staff. Sample: The research was conducted across three care homes in the Kent area, and fifteen domestic households. In total, thirty-two people with dementia took part in the study: fifteen in domestic settings, and seventeen in the care home sample. Participants were selected purposively to reflect different socio-economic backgrounds, and stages of dementia (from mild to severe), and include both men and women (nine men and twenty three women). They were recruited with support from care home managers and third sector organisations. The sample also included twenty nine family carers and relatives, and twenty-eight members of staff (care-workers, managers and laundry workers), who were related to/involved in the care of participants with dementia. It also included interviews and observations with two representatives from clothing companies that supply dementia care settings. Detailed field-notes were recorded after each session, and formal interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Ethics: Ethical approval was obtained from the Social Care Research Ethics Committee (SCREC). Where the person with dementia did not have capacity to give informed consent, family carers acted as personal consultees. Every effort was made to involve the person with dementia in the decision process, explaining the study verbally, and using simplified information sheets with visual aids. Consent was treated as ongoing, and the researcher continuously assessed the willingness of the person to be involved.

The Data Collection only consists of metadata and documentation as the data could not be archived due to legal, ethical or commercial constraints. For further information, please contact the contact person for this data collection.