Description
ABSRTACTThe experiences of dementia in farming communities
Authors: Jennifer Rhiannon Roberts, Bethan Naunton Morgan, Catrin Hedd Jones & Gill Windle.
Background: Despite the growing interest in improving support and reducing inequalities for people living with dementia in rural areas, research evidence relating to the experiences of people living with dementia in farming communities is scarce. Farming communities experience significant rates of dementia, and therefore understanding the support needs of this population is vital. In response, we conducted a scoping review of the published literature exploring the experiences of dementia in farming communities.
Method: The review followed Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) six step framework and adhered to the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Five databases were searched (ProQuest, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and MEDLINE) for peer-reviewed articles, and a general google search was conducted for grey literature.
Results: Eighteen articles were included in the review. Thematic analysis generated thirteen sub-themes that are presented within two overarching themes: ‘challenges’ and ‘fostering resilience’. Stakeholder engagement with representatives from eight organisations that support farmers was organised to discuss themes and gain additional insights. Findings indicate a unique set of challenges faced by farming communities in relation to dementia, that are in addition to those faced by people living rurally in general. Importantly, this work also highlights opportunities for fostering resilience in people living with dementia and their families in farming communities.
Conclusions: This work reveals a combination of factors that influence access to dementia care and support in farming contexts. Addressing these challenges requires targeted interventions and a commitment to tailoring support to the unique strengths, assets, and needs of farming populations. Our findings are being used as evidence to guide the development of future research plans for supporting the unique needs of farming populations.
| Period | 8 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | 35th Alzheimer Europe Conference |
| Event type | Conference |
| Degree of Recognition | International |