Developing and Sustaining Dementia Capable Communities: An Analysis of the Current Evidence

Exclusion, marginalization and stigma remain common experiences for people living with dementia. Dementia capable communities offer a pathway to support the wellbeing of people living with dementia by creating spaces where people living with dementia and their care partners are supported and empowered. This review of reviews examines the ideas and approaches for dementia-capable communities across disciplines and at multiple levels of action. Review articles focusing broadly on the development and implementation of dementia capable communities were analyzed for their methods, evidence base, approaches, and recommendations. The results highlighted the importance of engaging and collaborating across different parties, the need to support dementia awareness and address stigma and the key role of policy regulations and planning guidelines in facilitating dementia capable communities. They also noted the need to have a focus on the built environment and making it easier for people living with dementia to navigate the community. The importance of social and community based supports in promoting connection and wellbeing was also brought forward. Systemic critical analysis of the public policy and political conditions that would be needed for the development and maintenance of dementia capable communities was missing. Development of thriving communities where people living with dementia are supported and included will require contending with these challenges.