The essential features of Meeting Centres: development of the UK criteria for community support for people affected by dementia
ISSN: 1366-3666
Article publication date: 14 September 2022
Issue publication date: 7 August 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Meeting Centres (MCs) are a complex community-based psychosocial intervention to support people affected by dementia. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of identifying the essential features of MCs from a UK perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
The essential features were examined within a concept analysis framework, which combines both static and evolutionary methods, enabling multiple stakeholder groups to be included in the process in an iterative manner.
Findings
Eleven essential features were developed, providing a conceptual model of the UK MCs. The underpinning rationale is sufficiently flexible to enable community-based development, while at the same time providing a robust platform upon which to build the evidence base.
Originality/Value
While some features may be common to other types of community-based support, the combination of characteristics and the underpinning ethos differentiates MCs and enables each one to meet the needs of its own community.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank members of the National Reference Group for their support in identifying and refining the essential features of an MC. This work was supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, Project Number 10333678.
Declaration of interest statement: No potential competing interests were reported by the authors.
Citation
Evans, S., Bray, J., Brooker, D. and Stephens, N. (2023), "The essential features of Meeting Centres: development of the UK criteria for community support for people affected by dementia", Working with Older People, Vol. 27 No. 3, pp. 191-201. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-03-2022-0009
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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