Advancing Rural Palliative Dementia Care: An Updated Scoping Review

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent efforts to improve end-of-life dementia care in rural areas, highlighting the role of technology and the ongoing challenges faced by caregivers and communities.

Contribution

The paper updates a prior scoping review, identifying a shift toward technology-enabled interventions and emphasizing the need for community-driven solutions in rural palliative dementia care.

Findings

Recent studies emphasize technology like telehealth, but digital infrastructure and literacy remain barriers.

Caregiver burden persists due to limited respite care and professional support in rural areas.

Community-driven solutions and home-based care models are highlighted as priorities for future research.

Abstract

Palliative and end-of-life care for people living with dementia in rural areas remains a significant challenge due to geographic isolation, specialized workforce shortages, financial barriers, and gaps in culturally sensitive care models. This study updates Elliot et al.’s scoping review by assessing recent evidence on rural palliative dementia care to identify stakeholders’ needs and explore emerging approaches and their impact. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, we conducted a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest for studies published from November 2018 to the present. A total of 2,592 studies were identified, with 234 full-text articles screened and 48 studies included. Compared to the previous review, which primarily identified systemic barriers and policy gaps, this update reveals a growing focus on technology-enabled interventions such as telehealth, remote monitoring, and virtual peer support programs. However, digital literacy and infrastructure limitations hinder widespread implementation. Studies continue to highlight persistent challenges in accessing dementia-specific palliative services due to provider shortages, transportation barriers, and financial constraints. Caregiver burden remains a major concern, with rural caregivers facing increased emotional and physical strain due to limited respite care and professional support. Additionally, there is a critical need for community-driven solutions to improve rural dementia palliative care. Despite progress, critical gaps remain in integrating sustainable telehealth, expanding caregiver support, and developing community-responsive care models. Future research should prioritize leveraging community networks, home-based care models, and digital health innovations to enhance equity in rural dementia care.