Barriers and facilitators to accessing and engaging with arts-based non-pharmacological interventions for people living with dementia: A systematic review

Background and Aims Non-pharmacological arts interventions are increasingly being recognised as effective and beneficial ways to support and improve cognition and general well-being for people with dementia. However, accessing and engaging with beneficial arts interventions and support services can be challenging for people with dementia and their carers and it is important to understand barriers and facilitators that may impede access. This systematic review aimed to synthesise evidence on the barriers and facilitators to accessing and engaging with arts interventions and services for people living with dementia.Methods We systematically searched five electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science) for studies reporting barriers and facilitators to accessing and engaging with arts interventions for people with dementia in July 2024, screening a total of 7815 articles. Nineteen papers were deemed eligible for inclusion in this review including 567 people with dementia, 320 unpaid carers and 355 paid carers.Results This review highlights key facilitators and barriers to accessing and engaging with arts interventions for people with dementia. Key facilitators included the assistance of volunteers, the inclusion of unpaid carers in the sessions, and the effective facilitation of sessions. Barriers to access and engagement were identified for people with dementia and their unpaid carers such as increased reliance on unpaid carers and a lack of training and time for paid carers.Conclusions Increased awareness of these barriers and facilitators could aid in designing future arts interventions and support services to promote wider access and engagement for people with dementia and their carers.