How to Encourage the Public to Help People With Dementia in the Community: A Scoping Review

Background: In a response to the lack of public awareness of dementia, 'ageing in place' and 'dementia-friendly community' policies have been proposed, and a number of relevant studies have been carried out.

Aim: To map the evidence of public help for people with dementia in the community.

Design: A scoping review.

Methods: A comprehensive search of nine databases was conducted to find studies from the inception of the databases to January 2024. We developed our inclusion criteria to identify studies about public help for people with dementia in the community. Data from included studies were charted (purposively designed template) and narrated synthesis in relation to the study's research questions.

Results: Of 34 studies included, we found that difficult situations were encountered by people with dementia after developing cognitive, behavioural and psychological symptoms. We identified three types of helping behaviour, namely, formal planned, informal planned and spontaneous helping behaviour, which were influenced by general demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, responsibilities and understanding. Fourteen studies proposed interventions to promote public help for people with dementia in the community, covering three categories of teaching, practical and web-based methods.

Conclusions: It is necessary to develop a systematic intervention to promote public helping behaviour according to the characteristics of people with dementia and the modifiable influencing factors of helping behaviour.

Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution. This is a Scoping Review.