Adult Day Services for Families of Older Adults with Dementia: A Scoping Review, 2015–2025

Caring for a person with dementia often brings substantial burden and stress to family members, and adult day services (ADS) provide structured respite intended to ease these demands. This scoping review synthesizes evidence from 2015 to 2025 on how ADS affect caregivers’ burden, health, well-being, and access to care across regions. Using PRISMA-ScR guidelines, four databases were searched for English-language studies published between January 2015 and September 2025, with three reviewers independently screening, extracting, and appraising methodological quality using the MMAT. Forty-one papers representing 23 independent studies met inclusion criteria, most conducted in the United States and focused on caregivers of persons with dementia enrolled in ADS. The literature consistently examined caregiver stress, burden, and emotional well-being, with several studies also assessing biobehavioral indicators such as sleep and cortisol. Six evaluated structured interventions, and others explored innovative ADS models, predictors of use, or the consequences of COVID-19 service disruptions. Overall, ADS participation was associated with reduced caregiver burden, improved emotional well-being, and better physiological stress regulation, whereas pandemic-related closures heightened strain and diminished respite.