Developing evidence for football reminiscence interventions within long-term care: a co-operative approach applied in Scotland and Spain

Loneliness is a common experience within long-term care and, to promote wellbeing and quality of life among people with dementia, it is important to draw upon a repertoire of strategies that provide social stimulation, companionship and enjoyment. This paper describes and reflects on a program of co-operative social participatory research which sought to introduce football-focused (i.e. soccer-based) reminiscence based in four community settings within Spain and Scotland. Findings are reported and inform an original conceptual model that supports the introduction of sustainable approaches to the development of football-focused reminiscence with and for people with dementia.