Kishore Seetharaman awarded Alzheimer Society funding for dementia-inclusive urban design study

Congratulations to Kishore Seetharaman on receiving the Alzheimer Society of Canada’s Research Program Postdoctoral Award!

The Alzheimer Society Research Program funds innovative dementia research with the goals to: a) encourage researchers to explore radical new ways to advance our knowledge of dementia, and b) improve the quality of life for people living with dementia, their families and caregivers. This year, doctoral student Kishore Seetharaman has been recognized with this prestigious postdoctoral award for his project titled “Embedding Dementia-Inclusivity in Built Environment Accessibility at the Municipal Level in Metro Vancouver: A Universal Design Approach Bridging Aging, Disability, and Dementia.” He will be working  as a post-doctoral fellow over the next two years with Dr. Habib Chaudhury at Simon Fraser University. It is worth noting that Seetharaman received the SSHRC Post-doctoral Fellowship for his proposed research as well.

Seetharaman’s research explores how the accessibility of streets and outdoor public spaces can support people living with dementia in participating more in their communities. Existing studies show that urban planners must balance the needs of people with dementia with those of other population groups. This study aims to compare the outdoor accessibility needs of people with dementia to those of other older adults with disabilities.

The research will involve a literature review, surveys with researchers and city planners, and focus groups with individuals who have lived experience. These methods will be used to identify and compare population-specific accessibility needs and to propose inclusive solutions. Seetharaman will also engage with stakeholders across Metro Vancouver to discuss how the findings can inform both municipal and provincial accessibility initiatives.

The goal of this work is to strengthen the capacity of city planners to design inclusive, supportive, and accessible neighbourhood environments that promote the health and well-being of individuals living with dementia.