Unmet social needs of community-living older adults with dementia: A scoping review

Dementia-related cognitive decline and ageing-related challenges impact social participation and relationships. Limited knowledge of dementia among family, friends and the public hinder support for interactions with those affected. Unmet social needs in community-living older adults with dementia remain underrecognized, despite their importance in healthy ageing and quality of life. This scoping review mapped existing evidence on unmet social needs of community-living older adults with dementia, including how these needs vary across dementia stages. We conducted a scoping review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Four databases were searched (2000 -April 2025) in English, Portuguese and Mandarin, yielding 24 included articles. Seven themes of unmet social needs were identified: (i) participation in out-of-home activities, (ii) support for maintaining independence in daily life (iii) companionship, (iv) meaningful relationships, (v) respectful and dignified social interactions, (vi) emotional support, and (vii) social needs during the pandemic. Unmet social needs differed by dementia stage: in mild dementia, unmet social needs mostly relate to out-of-home activities, while in moderate and severe stages unmet social needs shifted towards daily activities, companionship and emotional support. Stigma emerged as a transversal influence shaping experiences of unmet social need across stages and contexts. Unmet social needs evolve across dementia stages and are influenced by relational, socio-cultural and structural factors. Future research should include more advanced stages, diverse populations, and strategies for addressing social needs from their own perspectives.