Dementia Friendly Swimming - tell us your experiences

What is the ACH Group Dementia Friendly Swimming Project?

The Dementia Friendly Swimming Project aims to understand what makes a great swimming experience for people with dementia.

The project is an initiative of ACH Group. We are a not-for-profit organisation based in South Australia, supporting older people to live good lives. Funding for the project is via a grant from Dementia Australia. We are working with people with Dementia, their families and supporters with the aim of developing resources to enable great swimming experiences.

This survey asks questions about you and your previous swimming experiences - what you enjoy, what you don't enjoy, and what helps you to enjoy a swim with your friends or family. The information we gather will be used to help design Dementia Friendly guidelines for swimming pools, staff, swimmers and their families.

It is of primary importance to us that people with dementia are able to have their own voices included in this research and we are using a range of research methods to ensure we include these voices. This survey is just one means of gathering people's input. If you or someone else you know would like to participate but is unable to take the online survey, please contact us via the email address/phone number below.

Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary and you are not obliged to answer any questions you don’t wish to.

All information gathered will be treated as strictly confidential. Click here to read our privacy policy.
An overall summary of the results of the survey will be available if requested after the survey has closed.
If you have any questions about the survey please contact Fiona Telford-Sharp, Co-design Manager - ftelford-sharp@ach.org.au - Ph 8159 3425.

Question Title

* 1. Please choose whether you are answering this survey as a person who has dementia yourself. Or, as a family member/ friend/ carer of someone with dementia.

I have been diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive decline

I am a family member or friend of someone with dementia

I work in a volunteer or paid role which includes supporting people with dementia

I work at a swimming pool venue

Other (please specify)

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* 2. What do you enjoy most about swimming?
(Or if you are answering on someone else's behalf, what does the person with dementia enjoy most about swimming?)

Just being in the water

Swimming laps

Spending time with friends at the pool

Participating in a water exercise class or similar

Having fun in the water

Sitting on the side watching my family or friends

Other (please tell us what else you like to do)

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* 3. Below are some aspects of the pool environment which people with dementia have told us can help or hinder their swimming enjoyment.
Please add more details about your specific experiences by typing into the boxes. There is also space to add your own suggestions.

Whether it's an indoor or outdoor pool

The type of chlorine that's used

The size of the pool or pool venue

External access/ parking

Disability features of the building and pool itself

Change rooms, for example access or location

Aspects of the environment such as shade or noise levels

Water temperature

Clarity of signage

Other

Question Title

* 4. Below are some aspects of how a pool venue is staffed and run, which people with dementia have told us can help or hinder their swimming enjoyment.
Please add more details about your specific experiences by typing into the boxes. There is also space to add your own suggestions.

Staff interactions with customers

Dementia specific exercise classes or swimming groups

Lifeguard on duty

Cafe or shop

Seating for spectators

Cost of entry or classes

Dedicated lap swimming lanes

Size of groups for classes

Family change rooms

Opening times

Other

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* 5. Thank-you for sharing your ideas and experiences. The next three questions will help us to understand more about the previous swimming experiences of people with dementia.

If you are answering this survey on behalf of someone with dementia it is their past experience we would like to hear about.

If you are answering this survey as an aged care or pool venue staff member, and your experiences relate to lots of people rather than one person in particular, you can leave these questions blank.

As a child I swam... (Please tick all that apply)

Never

Sometimes

Often

At a public pool

In a home pool

At the beach

In a river or dam

For fun with friends and family

In swimming lessons

In swimming club/competition

For exercise (e.g. lap swimming)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 6. As an adult I swam... (Please tick all that apply)

Never

Sometimes

Often

At a public pool

In a home pool

At the beach

In a river or dam

For fun with friends and family

In swimming lessons

In swimming club/competition

For exercise (e.g. lap swimming)

Question Title

* 7. In the past year I've swum... (Please tick all that apply)

Never

Sometimes

Often

At a public pool

In a home pool

At the beach

In a river or dam

For fun with friends and family

In swimming lessons

In swimming club/competition

For exercise (e.g. lap swimming)

I haven't swum much lately but I'd like to swim more often.

(If you tick this box please add more detail about why you haven't swum as often as you would like to)

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* 8. Please tell us how old you are
(If answering on behalf of someone else please tell us how old they are)

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* 9. If you live in South Australia and would like to be further involved with this project please tick the box below and let us know your contact details. We will be in touch soon.
(Opportunities include contributing to the advisory group, providing your expertise, participating in on site pool ‘audit’ activities and reviewing materials).

I don't live in South Australia

Yes I would like to be further involved with this project

I would like to be sent a summary of the results of this survey after it has closed

If you ticked that you would like us to contact you then please type your first and last name, and your email address or phone number

Thank-you very much for taking the time to tell us about your experiences.
If you would like us to send you a summary of this survey after it has closed, please tick the box above and include your contact details.
If you would like to know more about ACH Group or our dementia services please contact us on 1300 22 44 77 or click here to visit the ACH Group website.
If you have any complaints about any aspect of the survey such as the way it is being conducted or any questions about your rights as a survey participant please contact Teresa Yeing, Head of Customer Experience, tyeing@ach.org.au Ph: 8159 3498.

Question Title

* 1. Please choose whether you are answering this survey as a person who has dementia yourself. Or, as a family member/ friend/ carer of someone with dementia.

Question Title

* 2. What do you enjoy most about swimming? (Or if you are answering on someone else's behalf, what does the person with dementia enjoy most about swimming?)

Question Title

* 3. Below are some aspects of the pool environment which people with dementia have told us can help or hinder their swimming enjoyment. Please add more details about your specific experiences by typing into the boxes. There is also space to add your own suggestions.

Question Title

* 4. Below are some aspects of how a pool venue is staffed and run, which people with dementia have told us can help or hinder their swimming enjoyment. Please add more details about your specific experiences by typing into the boxes. There is also space to add your own suggestions.

Question Title

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* 6. As an adult I swam... (Please tick all that apply)

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* 7. In the past year I've swum... (Please tick all that apply)

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* 8. Please tell us how old you are(If answering on behalf of someone else please tell us how old they are)

Question Title

* 2. What do you enjoy most about swimming?
(Or if you are answering on someone else's behalf, what does the person with dementia enjoy most about swimming?)

* 3. Below are some aspects of the pool environment which people with dementia have told us can help or hinder their swimming enjoyment.
Please add more details about your specific experiences by typing into the boxes. There is also space to add your own suggestions.

* 4. Below are some aspects of how a pool venue is staffed and run, which people with dementia have told us can help or hinder their swimming enjoyment.
Please add more details about your specific experiences by typing into the boxes. There is also space to add your own suggestions.

* 8. Please tell us how old you are
(If answering on behalf of someone else please tell us how old they are)