Dementia inclusive retail outlets: a scoping review of strategies to support people living with dementia in the retail industry.

BACKGROUND: Supermarket shopping is a valued everyday activity that supports autonomy and social engagement for people living with dementia (PLWD). However, engagement with retail environments can be challenging due to difficulties with product recognition and selection, navigation, and sensory overwhelm. Despite increasing efforts to develop dementia-friendly communities, there is currently no comprehensive synthesis of evidence examining how PLWD experience retail environments or which strategies effectively support their engagement. METHODS: PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were searched (2007-2025) for quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies examining (1) retail engagement experiences of PLWD and/or informal carers, (2) practical recommendations for the retail sector, and (3) initiatives currently implemented in shops. Grey literature searches using Google supplemented these sources. Data were synthesised using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Ten academic and 59 non-academic resources, including guidance and reports of initiatives, were identified. Relating to the experience of retail engagement for PLWD four overarching themes were identified: (1) Reliance on Familiarity and Predictability, (2) Cognitive Demands Before and During Shopping, (3) Sensory Overload and Time Pressure, (4) Payment, Technology, and Feelings of Exposure. Practical recommendations consistently highlight the importance of both person-centred approaches and environmental adaptations, which are reflected in many initiatives currently implemented in shops. CONCLUSION: Despite the centrality of retail environments to community engagement for PLWD cognitive, sensory and social barriers impede independent positive engagement with these environments. Although dementia-friendly initiatives have been widely implemented across the retail sector, there remains a critical gap in rigorous evaluation of their effectiveness and long-term impact. Furthermore, some interventions may inadvertently contribute to the stigmatisation of PLWD, highlighting the need for inclusive, stigma-reducing strategies that support autonomy and participation. REGISTRATION: This review was pre-registered on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/gfyva/).