The experiences of living with dementia within an under-served geographical area: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis

AI Summary

Geographical context creates additional barriers to diagnosis and care, including limited services, unsuitable support and logistical challenges in rural and deprived areas.
Stigma, concerns about privacy and fears around disclosure reduce help-seeking, social inclusion and access to person-centred care.
Urgent need for person-centred, context-sensitive services and research to inform equitable dementia care, especially in deprived and coastal settings.

Age Ageing. 2026 Jun 1;55(6):afag190. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afag190.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dementia affects millions globally and presents diverse challenges shaped by personal, social and environmental factors. People living in under-served rural, coastal and deprived communities often face additional barriers to diagnosis, care and support, limiting person-centred approaches. These inequalities can negatively impact quality of life, social inclusion and health outcomes. Whilst dementia experiences have been widely studied, the influence of geographical context remains underexplored. Understanding this is essential to improving equitable, person-centred care across diverse settings.

METHODS: MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched from inception in February 2025 for qualitative studies on people’s experiences of living with dementia in rural, coastal or deprived areas. The review was not limited by country or date. Data were coded and thematically synthesised using NVivo.

FINDINGS: Seventy-three full texts were screened using Rayyan and 15 studies were included in the review. Thirteen studies were based in rural areas and two in deprived areas. No included studies were set in coastal areas. Four analytical themes were developed: navigating stigma, privacy and disclosure, navigating fragmented healthcare systems and services, lack of appropriate and accessible services and positive experiences of managing dementia.

DISCUSSION: Key barriers to managing dementia included limited service availability, unsuitable support, stigma and logistical challenges. Findings underscored the need for person-centred, context-sensitive care that considers geographic, social and cultural factors. Future research should further explore diverse under-served settings to inform equitable dementia care particularly in deprived and coastal areas.

PMID:42341205 | DOI:10.1093/ageing/afag190

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