Creating community through Walking the Talk for dementia

Aging Ment Health. 2026 Jun 24:1-11. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2026.2678993. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Creating community is not only therapeutic-it has been described as essential. This study explores a process of community-building among people with lived and professional experience in the dementia field, during Walking the Talk for Dementia (WTD), a week-long, immersive event on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Absence of community can lead to fragmented support for both people living with dementia and their care partners and for those working in the field. Achieving a sense of community, however, can be complex.

METHODS: A qualitative evaluation was conducted with 79 participants from 27 countries, incorporating pre-, during and post-event reflections. Participants included people with lived experience of dementia, researchers, clinicians, advocates, artists, innovators and policymakers.

RESULTS: Four interrelated themes emerged: identification, trust and belonging, equity in connection and transformation into action. WTD fostered deep social bonds, disrupted professional hierarchies and inspired sustained collaboration.

CONCLUSION: WTD exemplifies how intentional, inclusive and relational experiences can build community which could lead to increased inclusivity, advocacy, research and leadership initiatives in many regions that are currently underserved.

PMID:42340927 | DOI:10.1080/13607863.2026.2678993