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ToolsSPLENDID Collaboration (2025) Social prescribing in primary care for people living with dementia: a qualitative exploration of different roles and services in England. BMC Primary Care, 26 (1). ISSN 2731-4553
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Abstract
Background: Dementia is a global public health challenge with the number of people living with the condition rapidly rising. Social prescribing in primary care has emerged as a person-centred approach connecting individuals with community support. It is increasingly explored for its potential to support people with complex needs, yet its role in dementia care remains uncertain. This study aimed to explore current provision of social prescribing for people living with dementia across England, identifying relevant aspects for dementia care, with particular focus on generic and specialist services. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with regional leads of social prescribing services and social prescribing link workers (SPLWs) across England. Data were analysed using template analysis to identify key themes. Results: Twenty-two participants were interviewed: ten social prescribing regional leads, four generic SPLWs commissioned to work with people aged > 18 years, and eight SPLWs working exclusively or partly with a specific adult population. Four themes were identified: family carer engagement key to supporting people living with dementia; service rather than person-centred care; the dominance of dementia in influencing support; and strategies for success: dementia centred social prescribing. Participants identified the central role of family carers in facilitating access to social prescribing, highlighting that carer support was often essential. Generic social prescribing frequently followed a ‘service-led’ approach, with service constraints negatively influencing interactions. Dementia was often perceived as the dominant support need, potentially marginalising individuals within broader social prescribing services. Despite these challenges, participants with more role flexibility, and/or more experience of dementia, demonstrated a range of successful strategies, illustrating the potential of social prescribing for people living with dementia. Conclusion: SPLWs perceive that social prescribing has potential to play a key role in support for people living with dementia and family carers. While its core principles align well with dementia care, our findings suggest a social prescribing model more tailored to the needs of people living with dementia, or additional dementia-specific training for generic SPLWs, may prove more effective. Further research is needed to assess the impact of these approaches, especially for people living with dementia without access to family carers.
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