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

Polden, Megan ORCID: 0000-0002-1813-0765, Readman, Megan Rose ORCID: 0000-0002-5259-7887, Barnard, Tahlia, Godfrey, Abigail, Gray, Annabel and Giebel, Clarissa ORCID: 0000-0002-0746-0566 (2026) Barriers and facilitators to accessing and engaging with arts-based non-pharmacological interventions for people living with dementia: A systematic review DEMENTIA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, 25 (4). pp. 861-882. ISSN 1471-3012, 1741-2684

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Abstract

Background and AimsNon-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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsThis 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.ConclusionsIncreased 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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	dementia, arts interventions, barriers, facilitators, access, engagement
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	15 Apr 2025 14:32
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 19:56
DOI:	10.1177/14713012251333017
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012251333017
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3191404
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