Long‐Stay Dementia Care: Dutch Inventory and Comparison of Psychosocial Support Methods for People With Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia

ABSTRACT Psychosocial support methods (PSMs) address social, health and psychological challenges faced by people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers in long‐term dementia care. However, care organisations struggle with choosing appropriate PSMs due to insufficient evidence, inconsistent findings, and a lack of a comprehensive overview of PSMs for people with intellectual disabilities and dementia. This study aimed to provide a detailed inventory of available PSMs in Dutch and compare their effectiveness in daily practice. The study explored two key questions: (1) Which PSMs are available for specialised residential facilities? and (2) What are the core elements and characteristics of these PSMs, particularly in terms of effectiveness and feasibility? A standardised definition of PSM was developed to ensure consistency in terminology and meaningful comparisons. Through a systematic search of academic databases (EBSCO, Scopus and PubMed) and Dutch grey literature, 28 PSMs were identified. For each PSM, a comprehensive literature study was conducted to gather all available references describing its content, feasibility, and scientific foundations. Three PSMs, that is dementia care mapping (DCM), integrated emotion‐oriented care (IEOC) and Urlings–Van der Linden, specifically address people with intellectual disabilities and dementia. While all PSMs emphasise personalised care, long‐term evidence for their effectiveness remains limited. So far, effectiveness has only been studied for DCM. This study provides a first and preliminary synthesis of the available knowledge on PSMs for individuals with intellectual disabilities and dementia. Among the three PSMs found, the most indications for effectiveness are currently reported for DCM. These results may aid care organisations in their choice for a promising PSM to enhance quality of care and, indirectly, quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities and dementia.