Mental Health and Well-Being of Residents with Parkinson’s Disease in Care Homes: A Scoping Review

TL;DR

This review explores the mental health challenges faced by Parkinson’s disease residents in care homes and highlights the need for better care strategies.

Contribution

The study maps existing evidence and identifies gaps in mental health care for Parkinson’s disease residents in care homes.

Findings

Mental health disorders are common among care home residents with Parkinson’s disease, affecting 61% of individuals.

Residents with mental health issues experience reduced quality of life and increased care dependency.

Caregivers face significant burdens in managing mental health symptoms, and residents often suffer from social isolation.

Abstract

Introduction: As the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) increases, care homes face growing challenges in managing residents’ complex mental health needs. Residents may experience low mood, anxiety, and hallucinations. Methods: A scoping review (ScR) was conducted following the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Four databases (CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus) and grey literature sources were searched up to June 2025, alongside grey literature (European Public Health Association (EUPHA), the UK Department of Health and Social Care, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the aim of mapping the existing evidence on the mental health and well-being of people living with Parkinson’s disease in care homes, in order to identify gaps in the literature. Screening and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers using Covidence software, with discrepancies resolved through discussion. Results: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs. The findings indicate that mental health disorders are common and severe among care home residents with PD; 61% of individuals experienced at least one, contributing to reduced quality of life, increased care dependency, emotional distress, and social isolation. Caregivers report significant burden associated with managing symptoms associated with mental health disorders and residents frequently experience a decline in psychosocial well-being. Conclusions: Although few studies evaluated interventions, the findings highlight the need for both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. Specialised staff training and adherence to international care guidelines are needed to improve recognition and management of mental health needs in residents living with PD.

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