Make it Easy on Yourself!

The reflections of a person with dementia are outlined about how it felt and what was useful in taking part in an interview, to add to the established understanding that people with dementia can be included in research.

Abstract

In this article we draw on personal experiences to discuss the use of the interview as a research method from the perspective of someone with dementia. Despite the increased emphasis on including people with dementia themselves in research, the perspective of the person with dementia on the interview situation is so far missing. In this article we hope to add to the established understanding that people with dementia can be included in research, by outlining the reflections of a person with dementia about how it felt and what was useful in taking part in an interview. In particular, we want to highlight the importance of the relationship created in an interview, the role of the social setting, and some basic practical strategies to make the situation easier.