With the rapidly growing aging population in Austin, it is critical to understand their needs to inform future design and development of dementia-friendly neighborhoods. Following the socioecological model for implementing care and services, the study team will conduct qualitative interviews with 20 participants including both older people with dementia (OPWD) and care partners to describe their lived experiences of loneliness, perceived facilitators and barriers to social engagement, and needs for creating dementia-friendly neighborhoods. Through active involvement of those affected by dementia, the study findings will offer community-driven solutions to raise awareness among community stakeholders, design community programs tailored to the specific needs of the community, and foster a more inclusive and supportive environment. We hope to create dementia-friendly neighborhoods to enhance the social connectedness and engagement among OPWD and their care partners, and ultimately promote the well-being of the broader aging community.
