Preparing the next generation of the dementia care workforce via service learning: a scoping review

The aging global population has led to a steep rise in numbers of adults living with dementia, with a parallel expanded demand for healthcare and social service professionals. These trends, in conjunction with a relative dearth of students selecting dementia-focused educational paths, have led to a critical dementia workforce gap. Service learning (SL) is an educational paradigm that is well situated to potentially address this issue. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify sources investigating SL in the context of dementia care to inform best practices in recruitment and education of the future dementia care workforce. A search across five databases identified 34 relevant studies from 2000 to 2025. Program characteristics including key SL elements and outcome measures across students and service recipients were mapped. Results revealed strong use of key SL elements but variation in the scope, methodology, and rigor of student outcomes measures, with underrepresentation of service recipient perspectives and outcomes. This scoping review highlights next steps for educators to maximize determination of SL feasibility and value across project collaborators and participants. These practices will serve to further augment dementia-based SL as a powerful pedagogical intervention to serve students, the future dementia care workforce, and society.