Dementia care coordinator (DCC) programmes are designed to support individuals living with dementia and their unpaid carers to navigate the complex health and social care system, ensuring access to services and information. However, the increasing number of diverse and varied programmes has resulted in a fragmented evidence base, making it challenging for policymakers, commissioners and health services researchers to fully understand and evaluate these initiatives. To address this challenge, this paper presents findings from a rapid review of reviews, designed to explore the current landscape of DCC programmes in primary and community care settings.

Using a rapid approach to reviewing literature, this study includes ten evidence syntheses (including systematic, narrative, and scoping reviews) published since 2012. All included evidence syntheses focus on DCC programmes embedded in primary care or a community setting. Critical appraisals were conducted across each of the ten reviews.

Findings identified a variety of terms used for DCC programmes, making it difficult to understand whether there is a difference between DCC and case manager roles. Several workforce considerations were highlighted, including the need for appropriate training, knowledge and caseload. There is also evidence to suggest that DCC programmes may improve some clinical outcomes and carer outcomes. Yet this is harder to demonstrate because programmes and their components varied considerably.

This review provides decision-makers and stakeholders with a synthesis of an evolving and heterogeneous evidence base, highlighting the characteristics that appear most important for implementation and effectiveness for DCC programmes. However, the review highlights the need for consolidation of terminology, outcome measures and learning from workforce considerations to ensure effectiveness and consistency of these programmes moving forward.