Table 1.

Definition of key terms as used in this review

Term	Definition
Context	Context was viewed as the backdrop to a person’s progressive journey following a diagnosis of dementia. More specifically, they were settings, structures, environments, public discourse, conditions, circumstances or specific universally experienced events (such as transitions in the care environment) where social relationships could be seen to directly influence outcomes either positively or negatively. Contexts triggered behavioural and emotional responses (ie, mechanisms) for both the individual with dementia and those people within their immediate social network (eg, family and friends).
Mechanisms	The way in which people with dementia and those involved in their care (both professional and lay) respond to and reason about challenges presented by the progression of dementia. Mechanisms were triggered in specific contexts and led to changes in behaviour and decision making.
Outcome	Observed points from the literature that resulted from an interaction between specific mechanism and contexts. These points represent outcomes that were observed to be directly influenced by social capital and as such are potential targets for interventions that seek to harness the role of social capital in end-of-life care.
Agency	Is the capacity of individuals to act independently, to make their own choice and thus bear influence on their surroundings.
Agentic influence	This is the influence exerted by the agent in question.
Cognitive social capital	Subjective interpretations of shared understandings held by a close network or group of people.
Structural social capital	The presence of a network of access to people and resources both professional and lay.
Relational social capital	Feelings of trust shared by people within a social context.