Features of the social and built environment that contribute to the well-being of people with dementia who live at home: A scoping review

Abstract

This scoping review summarizes findings from 23 qualitative articles on how social and built environments contribute to the well-being of people with dementia who live at home. Through thematic analysis, two themes were identified: i) connection to society and supportive relationships and ii) interaction with natural environments and public space. Features of the social and built environment contribute to well-being both positively and negatively. Future research should explore how these features intersect in an urban-rural context as a basis to inform the development of dementia-friendly initiatives. Moreover, involving people with dementia in the design of features of built environments, such as infrastructure, will result in more inclusive communities.

Keywords: Dementia-friendly communities; Lived experience; Outdoor environment; Scoping review; Well-being.