Developing a community-engaged homemaking approach to elicit a sense of belonging in people with dementia

This paper presents a research-action case which explores how homemaking processes and dynamics, enable people with dementia to create and establish a sense of belonging towards the care environment they are living in, after relocating from their home. In particular, home-making practises encompass the involvement of archetypical elements and material possessions in the form of objects owning an intrinsic emotional value, which are capable of enabling habits, conversations and social interactions. Through the presented case study, we want to investigate their role in contributing to homemaking and placemaking practises. The research encompassed semi-structured interviews, observations, and storytelling focus groups with guests and staff, and adopted a community-engaged homemaking approach, which comprises a three-step method including inspiration, ideation, and implementation phases.