Posted on
13 May 2026
Read time
1 minute
People living with advanced dementia often experience increasing frailty and complex health needs, especially as they approach the end of life. This study reviewed existing research to understand whether physical interventions—such as exercise, massage, help with eating and drinking, or changes to the care environment—can improve care for people with advanced dementia living in the community. Researchers examined findings from 13 previous high‑quality reviews. Overall, the evidence was limited and generally of low quality, meaning it was not possible to draw firm conclusions about which interventions truly help. Most research focused on comfort and physical functioning, while important areas such as support for family carers, holistic assessment, and medical decision‑making were largely overlooked. The authors highlight the need for better‑designed studies to guide care that genuinely improves quality of life at this stage. This work is supported by ACHA Professor Liz Sampson and Senior Research Fellow Alexandra Feast DOI.
