A meta-review and synthesis of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for people living with dementia nearing the end of life and their family carers

Nathan Davies; Yolanda Barrado-Martín; Jesutofunmi Aworinde; Victoria Vickerstaff; Kirsten Moore; Charlotte Kenten; Sarah McMullen; Catherine Evans; Elizabeth L. Sampson

doi:10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100068

A meta-review and synthesis of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for people living with dementia nearing the end of life and their family carers

Nathan Davies^*, Yolanda Barrado-Martín, Jesutofunmi Aworinde, Victoria Vickerstaff, Kirsten Moore, Charlotte Kenten, Sarah McMullen, Catherine Evans, Elizabeth L. Sampson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Dementia, is a leading cause of death internationally, affecting 55 million people. A palliative approach, emphasizing holistic and psychosocial care, is increasingly recognised as essential for addressing the complex needs of people with dementia and their carers. However, little research has explored the interface between psychosocial interventions for people with dementia near the end of life and palliative care, necessitating a synthesis to guide integrated, person-centred care. Aim: To establish a framework of evidence-based psychosocial interventions in dementia palliative care. Methods: We conducted a systematic review using narrative synthesis. Three electronic databases (Epistemonikos, MEDLINE and ASSIA) were searched (January 1980–May 2024), for systematic reviews, guided by the methods of Cochrane overview of reviews. This is part of a series of reviews with the focus for this manuscript on psychosocial interventions for people with dementia. Results: Thirty-four reviews were included, published between 2009 and 2023. No reviews of interventions covered all domains of dementia palliative care. The majority focussed on neuropsychiatric symptom management and promoting wellbeing. There were no reviews which covered managing care transitions, continuity of care and care co-ordination, or information for people with dementia. Conclusions: There is significant progress in the development and evaluation of interventions targeting behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). However, a critical gap persists in addressing other essential aspects of quality of life and dementia care, with a notable gap in addressing many crucial aspects of palliative dementia care, such as care co-ordination, transitions, and carer support.

Original language	English
Article number	100068
Journal	International Psychogeriatrics
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100068
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2025

Keywords

Dementia
End of life care
Palliative care
Psychosocial
Systematic review

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10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100068

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Davies, N., Barrado-Martín, Y., Aworinde, J., Vickerstaff, V., Moore, K., Kenten, C., McMullen, S., Evans, C., & Sampson, E. L. (Accepted/In press). A meta-review and synthesis of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for people living with dementia nearing the end of life and their family carers. International Psychogeriatrics, Article 100068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100068

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title = "A meta-review and synthesis of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for people living with dementia nearing the end of life and their family carers",

abstract = "Background: Dementia, is a leading cause of death internationally, affecting 55 million people. A palliative approach, emphasizing holistic and psychosocial care, is increasingly recognised as essential for addressing the complex needs of people with dementia and their carers. However, little research has explored the interface between psychosocial interventions for people with dementia near the end of life and palliative care, necessitating a synthesis to guide integrated, person-centred care. Aim: To establish a framework of evidence-based psychosocial interventions in dementia palliative care. Methods: We conducted a systematic review using narrative synthesis. Three electronic databases (Epistemonikos, MEDLINE and ASSIA) were searched (January 1980–May 2024), for systematic reviews, guided by the methods of Cochrane overview of reviews. This is part of a series of reviews with the focus for this manuscript on psychosocial interventions for people with dementia. Results: Thirty-four reviews were included, published between 2009 and 2023. No reviews of interventions covered all domains of dementia palliative care. The majority focussed on neuropsychiatric symptom management and promoting wellbeing. There were no reviews which covered managing care transitions, continuity of care and care co-ordination, or information for people with dementia. Conclusions: There is significant progress in the development and evaluation of interventions targeting behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). However, a critical gap persists in addressing other essential aspects of quality of life and dementia care, with a notable gap in addressing many crucial aspects of palliative dementia care, such as care co-ordination, transitions, and carer support.",

keywords = "Dementia, End of life care, Palliative care, Psychosocial, Systematic review",

author = "Nathan Davies and Yolanda Barrado-Mart{\'i}n and Jesutofunmi Aworinde and Victoria Vickerstaff and Kirsten Moore and Charlotte Kenten and Sarah McMullen and Catherine Evans and Sampson, {Elizabeth L.}",

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year = "2025",

doi = "10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100068",

language = "English",

journal = "International Psychogeriatrics",

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T1 - A meta-review and synthesis of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for people living with dementia nearing the end of life and their family carers

AU - Davies, Nathan

AU - Barrado-Martín, Yolanda

AU - Aworinde, Jesutofunmi

AU - Vickerstaff, Victoria

AU - Moore, Kirsten

AU - Kenten, Charlotte

AU - McMullen, Sarah

AU - Evans, Catherine

AU - Sampson, Elizabeth L.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Background: Dementia, is a leading cause of death internationally, affecting 55 million people. A palliative approach, emphasizing holistic and psychosocial care, is increasingly recognised as essential for addressing the complex needs of people with dementia and their carers. However, little research has explored the interface between psychosocial interventions for people with dementia near the end of life and palliative care, necessitating a synthesis to guide integrated, person-centred care. Aim: To establish a framework of evidence-based psychosocial interventions in dementia palliative care. Methods: We conducted a systematic review using narrative synthesis. Three electronic databases (Epistemonikos, MEDLINE and ASSIA) were searched (January 1980–May 2024), for systematic reviews, guided by the methods of Cochrane overview of reviews. This is part of a series of reviews with the focus for this manuscript on psychosocial interventions for people with dementia. Results: Thirty-four reviews were included, published between 2009 and 2023. No reviews of interventions covered all domains of dementia palliative care. The majority focussed on neuropsychiatric symptom management and promoting wellbeing. There were no reviews which covered managing care transitions, continuity of care and care co-ordination, or information for people with dementia. Conclusions: There is significant progress in the development and evaluation of interventions targeting behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). However, a critical gap persists in addressing other essential aspects of quality of life and dementia care, with a notable gap in addressing many crucial aspects of palliative dementia care, such as care co-ordination, transitions, and carer support.

AB - Background: Dementia, is a leading cause of death internationally, affecting 55 million people. A palliative approach, emphasizing holistic and psychosocial care, is increasingly recognised as essential for addressing the complex needs of people with dementia and their carers. However, little research has explored the interface between psychosocial interventions for people with dementia near the end of life and palliative care, necessitating a synthesis to guide integrated, person-centred care. Aim: To establish a framework of evidence-based psychosocial interventions in dementia palliative care. Methods: We conducted a systematic review using narrative synthesis. Three electronic databases (Epistemonikos, MEDLINE and ASSIA) were searched (January 1980–May 2024), for systematic reviews, guided by the methods of Cochrane overview of reviews. This is part of a series of reviews with the focus for this manuscript on psychosocial interventions for people with dementia. Results: Thirty-four reviews were included, published between 2009 and 2023. No reviews of interventions covered all domains of dementia palliative care. The majority focussed on neuropsychiatric symptom management and promoting wellbeing. There were no reviews which covered managing care transitions, continuity of care and care co-ordination, or information for people with dementia. Conclusions: There is significant progress in the development and evaluation of interventions targeting behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). However, a critical gap persists in addressing other essential aspects of quality of life and dementia care, with a notable gap in addressing many crucial aspects of palliative dementia care, such as care co-ordination, transitions, and carer support.

KW - Dementia

KW - End of life care

KW - Palliative care

KW - Psychosocial

KW - Systematic review

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AN - SCOPUS:105001554680

SN - 1041-6102

JO - International Psychogeriatrics

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ER -

A meta-review and synthesis of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for people living with dementia nearing the end of life and their family carers

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