Nature as a ‘Lifeline’: The Power of Photography when Exploring the Experiences of Older Adults living with Memory Loss

The visual is an underutilised modality through which to investigate experiences of memory loss in older people. We describe a visual ethnography with older adults experiencing subjective or objective memory loss, receiving a cognitive wellbeing group intervention designed to prevent cognitive decline and dementia (APPLE-Tree programme). We aimed to explore lived experiences of people with memory concerns, how participants engaged with this photography and co-design project, and how collaboration with a photographer/artist enhanced this process. Nineteen participants shared photographs reflecting what they valued in their daily lives, their experiences of memory concerns, and the intervention. 14 participated in qualitative photo-elicitation interviews, and 13 collaborated with a professional photographer/artist to co-create an exhibition, in individual meetings and workshops, during which a researcher took ethnographic field notes. Eight participants were re-interviewed after the exhibition launch.We used qualitative thematic methods to analyse visual, observational and interview data. We developed themes around the use of photographs to: (1) celebrate connections to nature as a lifeline; (2) anchor their experiences within relationships to family; (3) explore how an enduring sense of self and identity enabled adaptation and coping in response to challenges of ageing, memory concerns, and the pandemic, and underpinned a resilience to ageing stereotypes. We explore visual research as a powerful tool for eliciting meaningful accounts from older adults experiencing cognitive change and to connect the arts and social sciences within ageing studies.