[Getting Lost in People With Dementia: A Scoping Review]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Getting lost is a common and significant problem for individuals with dementia.
• This phenomenon negatively impacts patients, caregivers, and the public.
• The concept of 'getting lost' in dementia lacks clear definition in existing literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review to comprehensively understand the phenomenon of getting lost in people with dementia.
• To provide caregivers with enhanced information and guide future research and practice.
• To clarify the multifaceted nature of dementia-related 'getting lost'.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review methodology was employed, searching multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, etc.) and gray literature.
• Keywords, MeSH, and Emtree terms related to dementia and getting lost were utilized for comprehensive article retrieval.
• 64 articles published between 2011-2020 were selected and analyzed using the Arksey and O'Malley six-step literature review method.

Main Results:

• The concept of getting lost in dementia is diverse and intrinsically linked to wandering behavior.
• Over 50% of assessment tools for getting lost in dementia incorporate the concept of wandering.
• Key influencing factors include patient traits, disease progression, caregiving aspects, and environmental elements.
• Negative consequences affect patients, caregivers, and the wider public.
• The majority of reviewed studies were quantitative and originated from Western countries.

Conclusions:

• This scoping review clarifies the multifaceted nature of getting lost in dementia, its contributing factors, and consequences.
• Findings can inform healthcare policies for preventive measures and care planning.
• Identifies gaps in the literature to guide future academic research on dementia and wandering.