There have been relatively few interventions on an individual level to support community-dwelling people with dementia to continue to fulfill their potential in society. This study investigated the implementation of DemenTalent, an intervention in which people with dementia become active as volunteers in society based on their talents. The intervention was linked to existing Meeting Centers for people with dementia and their informal caregivers.

We conducted a qualitative multiple case study. Semi-structured interviews regarding experienced facilitators and barriers were conducted with 22 key figures/stakeholders in 12 Meeting Centers during the preparation, starting and continuation phases of the implementation of DemenTalent.

Several influencing factors were found on a micro level (e.g. Public Relations, training, management involvement), meso level (e.g. finances, collaborating with others) and macro level (e.g. laws and regulations, national and regional policy) during the different phases of the implementation process. Factors mentioned by most stakeholders were human and financial resources. Another important factor appeared to be the culture of the region.

The insight into facilitating and impeding factors in the implementation of DemenTalent provided by this study will inform and enable other Meeting Centers to adopt a fitting strategy to implement DemenTalent in their own center. This is expected to help disseminate the intervention further, giving more people with dementia the chance to fulfill their potential, find a meaningful and pleasant way of spending their time, and actively participate in society. This will contribute to a more inclusive society and less stigmatization of people with dementia.

The “pathway to care” concept offers a helpful framework for preparing national dementia plans and strategies and provides a structure to explore the availability and accessibility of timely and effective care for people with dementia and support for their informal carers. Within the framework of the JPND-MEETINGDEM implementation project the pathways to regular day-care activities and the Meeting Centers Support Programme (MCSP), an innovative combined support form for people with dementia and carers, was explored.

An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative, cross-country design was applied to investigate the pathways to day care in several regions in four European countries (Italy, Poland, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands).

Before implementation of MCSP, of the four countries the United Kingdom had the most structured pathway to post-diagnostic support for people with dementia. MCSP introduction had a positive impact on the pathways to day-care activities in all countries. MCSP filled an important gap in post-diagnostic care, increasing the accessibility to support for both people with dementia and carers. Key elements such as program of activities, target group, and collaboration between healthcare and social services were recognized as success factors.

This study shows that MCSP fills (part of) the gap between diagnosis and residential care and can therefore be seen as a pillar of post-diagnostic care and support. Further dissemination of Meeting Centers in Europe may have a multiple impact on the structure of dementia services in European countries and the pathways to day care for people with dementia and their carer(s).

People with dementia at green care farms (GCFs) are physically more active, have more social interactions, are involved in a larger variety of activities, and come outdoors more often than those in other long-term dementia care settings. These aspects may positively affect health and well-being. This study explored which and how characteristics of GCFs could be implemented in other long-term dementia care settings, taking into account possible facilitators and barriers.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 professionals from GCFs, independent small-scale long-term care facilities, and larger scale long-term care facilities in the Netherlands. The framework method was used to analyze the data.

Several characteristics of GCFs (e.g. homelike aspects, domestic activities, and access to outdoor environments) have already been applied in other types of long-term dementia care settings. However, how and the extent to which these characteristics are being applied differ between GCFs and other types of long-term dementia care settings. Facilitators and barriers for the implementation of characteristics of GCFs were related to the physical environment in which the care facility is situated (e.g. the degree of urbanization), characteristics and competences of staff members (e.g. flexibility, creativity), characteristics and competences of managers (e.g. leadership, vision), and the political context (e.g. application of risk and safety protocols).

Several characteristics can be implemented in other dementia care settings. However, to realize innovation in dementia care it is important that not only the physical environment but also the social and organizational environments are supporting the process of change.