Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia

This study investigates the impact of a weekly group providing sport and physical activities for men with early onset dementia established by Notts County Football in the Community (NCFC). There were three aims: investigate the effect of early onset dementia on individuals with the condition and the...

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Main Authors: Carone, Laura, Tischler, Victoria, Dening, Tom
Format: Article
Published: SAGE 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33566/
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author Carone, Laura
Tischler, Victoria
Dening, Tom
author_facet Carone, Laura
Tischler, Victoria
Dening, Tom
author_sort Carone, Laura
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description This study investigates the impact of a weekly group providing sport and physical activities for men with early onset dementia established by Notts County Football in the Community (NCFC). There were three aims: investigate the effect of early onset dementia on individuals with the condition and their carers; examine perceptions of current levels of service provision for people with early onset dementia; and analyse the impact of the group. Men with dementia (n=5) attending the sessions, their carers (n=5), NCFC coaching staff (n=5) and people organising/facilitating the sessions (n=5), were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews explored the participants’ experiences of dementia, their opinions on current service provisions and on the sessions. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were found: loss related to the condition of dementia and its impact on relationships (‘Loss’); lack of age-appropriate services for people with early onset dementia (‘Lack of Resources’); enjoyment and positive anticipation related to the group for all involved (‘Enjoyment and Anticipation’); and ‘the Notts County Effect’ which attributed the success of the sessions to the strong brand of the football club, and to personalised service in a “dementia-free” environment. The NCFC sessions provided a safe low-cost intervention with positive effects upon quality of life for both people with early onset dementia, their carers and the staff involved. This suggests that the service may be valuable to a wider range of people living in different areas
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spelling nottingham-335662020-05-04T18:19:16Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33566/ Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia Carone, Laura Tischler, Victoria Dening, Tom This study investigates the impact of a weekly group providing sport and physical activities for men with early onset dementia established by Notts County Football in the Community (NCFC). There were three aims: investigate the effect of early onset dementia on individuals with the condition and their carers; examine perceptions of current levels of service provision for people with early onset dementia; and analyse the impact of the group. Men with dementia (n=5) attending the sessions, their carers (n=5), NCFC coaching staff (n=5) and people organising/facilitating the sessions (n=5), were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews explored the participants’ experiences of dementia, their opinions on current service provisions and on the sessions. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were found: loss related to the condition of dementia and its impact on relationships (‘Loss’); lack of age-appropriate services for people with early onset dementia (‘Lack of Resources’); enjoyment and positive anticipation related to the group for all involved (‘Enjoyment and Anticipation’); and ‘the Notts County Effect’ which attributed the success of the sessions to the strong brand of the football club, and to personalised service in a “dementia-free” environment. The NCFC sessions provided a safe low-cost intervention with positive effects upon quality of life for both people with early onset dementia, their carers and the staff involved. This suggests that the service may be valuable to a wider range of people living in different areas SAGE 2016-11-30 Article PeerReviewed Carone, Laura, Tischler, Victoria and Dening, Tom (2016) Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia. Dementia, 15 (6). pp. 1358-1376. ISSN 1741-2684 dementia; early onset dementia; football; men; quality of life; sporting activities http://dem.sagepub.com/content/15/6/1358 doi:10.1177/1471301214560239 doi:10.1177/1471301214560239
spellingShingle dementia; early onset dementia; football; men; quality of life; sporting activities
Carone, Laura
Tischler, Victoria
Dening, Tom
Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia
title Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia
title_full Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia
title_fullStr Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia
title_full_unstemmed Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia
title_short Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia
title_sort football and dementia: a qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia
topic dementia; early onset dementia; football; men; quality of life; sporting activities
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33566/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33566/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33566/