Mapping racial and ethnic healthcare disparities for persons living with dementia: A scoping review

Abstract

AbstractINTRODUCTIONWe set out to map evidence of disparities in Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease related dementias healthcare, including issues of access, quality, and outcomes for racial/ethnic minoritized persons living with dementia (PLWD) and family caregivers.METHODSWe conducted a scoping review of the literature published from 2000 to 2022 in PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. The inclusion criteria were: (1) focused on PLWD and/or family caregivers, (2) examined disparities or differences in healthcare, (3) were conducted in the United States, (4) compared two or more racial/ethnic groups, and (5) reported quantitative or qualitative findings.RESULTSKey findings include accumulating evidence that minoritized populations are less likely to receive an accurate and timely diagnosis, be prescribed anti‐dementia medications, and use hospice care, and more likely to have a higher risk of hospitalization and receive more aggressive life‐sustaining treatment at the end‐of‐life.DISCUSSIONFuture studies need to examine underlying processes and develop interventions to reduce disparities while also being more broadly inclusive of diverse populations.