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Introduction
It is estimated that approximately 850,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, and although mainly prevalent in those over 65 years of age, there are over 40,000 people under the age of 65 who are affected by dementia (Alzheimer's Society, 2015). The term "dementia" is used to describe a progressive set of symptoms that occur as a result of damage to the brain, including, but not limited to, memory difficulties, repetitive behaviours, communication difficulties and changes to sleep patterns and appetite (Alzheimer's Society, 2015). Because of the profound impact that these changes can have on daily living, people with dementia have often been referred to as "victims" of their diagnosis, and have been largely excluded from being actively involved in research by professionals who have held the presumption that they "cannot do it" or that there is "no point in trying" (Hellström et al. , 2007; Cantley et al. , 2005). Furthermore, people with dementia have historically been viewed as having little to offer in research, and the focus has been directed towards "managing behaviours" and addressing carer burden (Dupuis et al. , 2012). These attitudes help to reinforce negative stigma and prejudices towards people with dementia, and their exclusion from participation in research is reflective of their social exclusion as a whole (Cantley et al. , 2005).
More recently, professionals adopting a person-centred approach towards individuals with dementia have recognised that there is a wealth of knowledge to be gained from exploring the lived experience of dementia, and that hearing the voice of people with dementia has the potential to challenge and change long-standing attitudes towards their involvement in research (Dupuis et al. , 2012; Murphy et al. , 2015). As a result of this, people with dementia have commonly participated in research that explores their thoughts and feelings through the use of questionnaires and interviews (Cheston et al. , 2000). For individuals who are in the advanced stages of dementia and experience difficulties with interviews and questionnaires, observation methods provide a passive way of involving people with dementia in research. Dementia Care Mapping, for example, can be used both as a tool for service evaluation and for practice development, and allows frontline staff working with dementia and researchers to...