Dementia Support Through Football: A Scoping Review of Community-Based Interventions

Background: International policy increasingly recognises the importance of inclusive, community-based support for people living with dementia. Football, as a culturally significant sport, has the potential to reach older adults and communities disproportionately affected by health inequalities. The objectives of this review were to collate evidence on football-based dementia initiatives, including intervention format, delivery approaches, and reported outcomes. Methods: Seven databases (Sportdiscus, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science) were searched for relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature from their inception to June 2025. The PICO framework was used to define eligibility criteria. Eligible studies described community-based football-themed or football-based programmes involving people living with dementia. Data were extracted on participant sample, intervention characteristics, and reported outcomes, and iteratively charted. Results: In total, 11 of the 1059 identified articles were included within this review. Initiatives were often delivered through professional football clubs and charitable foundations, with formats ranging from reminiscence therapy sessions to walking football. Common outcomes for participants included increased sociability, improved mood, enhanced communication, and a strengthened sense of identity and belonging. Some interventions also reported physical benefits, such as improved mobility. Carers highlighted respite opportunities, peer support, and enjoyment from seeing relatives more engaged. Despite positive reports, outcome measurement was inconsistent, and most studies were small-scale or descriptive pilot projects. Conclusions: Football-based dementia initiatives provide meaningful, culturally grounded opportunities for social inclusion and support. Their delivery through community clubs/organisations positions them well to address inequities in dementia care, particularly in areas of disadvantage. However, stronger evaluation methods are required to build a robust evidence base and guide sustainable implementation at scale.