Table 5.

Narrative summary of synthesis: intervention categories including descriptions

Intervention category incl. description*	Studies (Author(s), year)	Content (Interventions)	Provider***	Format	Setting	Intensity	Fidelity**
Social contact: Provision of different forms of social contact to counterbalance the potentially limited contact with others. This social contact can be real or simulated [60].	Ballard et al. [62], Boersma et al. [77], Cohen-Mansfield et al. [65], Fossey et al. [67], Lawton et al. [68], Tay et al. [78], van der Ploeg et al. [74], van Haitsma et al. [75], Verbeek et al. [79]	Social simulation tool (e.g., robotic animal, lifelike baby doll, baby video, respite video, stuffed animal, family pictures and family video, writing letters) One-on-one interaction (incl. active listening and communication) Conversation (e.g., General and based on e.g., newspaper stories and pictures) Group activity	Trained care staff, researchers in gerontology and psychology, trained psychologist, occupational therapist, nurse, CNAs, rabbi, social workers, a trained multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, dietician, pharmacist, physiotherapist, speech therapist, music therapists, volunteers, (higher degree psychology) students, family caregivers	Mostly individual but also and/or group	Nursing home Hospital specialized care unit Residential facilities Long-term institutional nursing care	7AM –3 PM or 3PM –11 PM, 10 min –4 h per week, 1 –7 days per week, 2 weeks –12 months	Substantial loss to follow-up (deaths) yielding high non-completion rates. Lack of staff and time, hence lack of therapeutic communication style in care main obstacles to wider implementation of PCC-interventions. A culture of resistance against intervention / suspicion about intrusion of outsiders among staff and management, hence problem with protocol adherence. Treatment facilitators tempted to deliver intervention to controls when control approach failed. Aggressive or non-cooperative participants. Allocation not randomized, some differences in outcomes existed already at baseline.
Physical activities: Provision of structured exercise to create meaningful and engaging experiences that can be a useful counterbalance to difficult behaviors [60].	Ballard et al. [62], Cohen-Mansfield et al. [65], Tay et al. [78], van der Ploeg et al. [74], van Haitsma et al. [75]	Physical activity (e.g., outdoor walks) Gardening	Trained care staff, researchers in gerontology and psychology, a trained multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social worker, dietician, pharmacist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, music therapists, volunteers, (higher degree psychology) students, CNAs	Individual and/or group	Nursing home Hospital specialized care unit Residential facilities	7AM –3 PM or 3PM –11 PM, 10 min –4 h per week, 1 –7 days per week, 2 weeks –7 months	Substantial loss to follow-up (deaths) yielding high non-completion rates. Lack of staff and time, hence lack of therapeutic communication style in care main obstacles to wider implementation of PCC-interventions. Treatment facilitators tempted to deliver intervention to controls when control approach failed. Aggressive or non-cooperative participants. Problems with protocol adherence.
Cognitive training: Provision of stimulation for cognitive functions through a set of standard tasks, which reflect memory, attention or problem solving [60].	Ballard et al. [62], Boersma et al. [77], Cohen-Mansfield et al. [65], Lawton et al. [68], Tay et al. [78], van der Ploeg et al. [74], van Haitsma et al. [75], Verbeek et al. [79]	Puzzles and games Magazine/reading/book on tape Poetry Theatre Arts and crafts (e.g., screwing nuts and bolts together, working with clay, working with fabric) Work like activities, housekeeping tasks (e.g., folding towels) Videos and television Sorting (e.g., sorting pictures, arranging flowers, sorting dry pastas)	Trained care staff, researchers in gerontology and psychology, CNAs, psychologist, rabbi, social workers, a trained multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, a social worker, dietician, pharmacist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, music therapists, volunteers, (higher degree psychology) students, family caregivers	Individual and/or group	Nursing home Hospital specialized care unit Residential facilities Long-term institutional nursing care	7AM –3 PM or 3PM –11 PM, 10 –60 min per week, 1-7 days per week, 3 weeks –12 months	Substantial loss to follow-up (deaths) yielding high non-completion rates. Lack of staff and time, hence lack of therapeutic communication style in care main obstacles to wider implementation of PCC-interventions. A culture of resistance against intervention / suspicion about intrusion of outsiders among staff and management, hence problem with protocol adherence. Treatment facilitators tempted to deliver intervention to controls when control approach failed. Aggressive or non-cooperative participants. Allocation not randomized, some differences in outcomes existed already at baseline.
Sensory enhancement: Enhancement or relaxation of the overall level of sensory stimulation in the environment, intended to counterbalance the negative impact of sensory deprivation/stimulation [60].	Ballard et al. [62], Boersma et al. [77], Cohen-Mansfield et al. [65], Lawton et al. [68], Tay et al. [78], van der Ploeg et al. [74], van Haitsma et al. [75], van Weert et al. [76]	Music (e.g., listening, singing along, including in conversations and care) Snoezelen Sensory stimulation (e.g., hand massage with lotion, smelling fresh flowers)	Trained care staff, researchers in gerontology and psychology, CNAs, psychologist, rabbi, social workers, a trained multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, a social worker, dietician, pharmacist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, music therapists, volunteers, (higher degree psychology) students	Mostly individual but also and/or group Individual	Nursing home Hospital specialized care unit Residential facilities	10 min –24 h, 1 –7 days per week, 3 weeks –18 months	Substantial loss to follow-up (deaths) yielding high non-completion rates. Lack of staff and time, hence lack of therapeutic communication style in care main obstacles to wider implementation of PCC-interventions. A culture of resistance against intervention / suspicion about intrusion of outsiders among staff and management, hence problem with protocol adherence. Treatment facilitators tempted to deliver intervention to controls, when control approach failed/intervention was delivered to some control wards. Aggressive or non-cooperative participants.
Daily living assistance: Assistance with basic care, e.g., provision of laundry services, basic nutrition and help with activities of daily living [60].	Ballard et al. [62], Cohen-Mansfield et al. [65], Sloane et al. [70], van Haitsma et al. [75], Verbeek et al. [79]	Care (e.g., taking person to bathroom, bringing a sweater or blanket, getting nursing staff, discussing medical condition with physician, repositioning person, taking person to his/her room, bringing eyeglasses, manicure, and other care activities) Food or drink, making snacks Activities of daily living Person-centered showering, towel bath	Trained care staff, researchers in gerontology and psychology, CNAs under supervision of clinical nurse specialist, psychologist or researchers, family caregivers	Individual and/or group	Nursing home Long-term institutional nursing care	7AM –3 PM or 3PM –11 PM, 10 min –4 h per week, 2, 3 or 7 days per week, 2 weeks –12 months	Substantial loss to follow-up (deaths) yielding high non-completion rates. Lack of staff and time, hence lack of therapeutic communication style in care main obstacles to wider implementation of PCC-interventions. Problems with protocol adherence. Allocation not randomized, some differences in outcomes existed already at baseline.
Life history oriented emotional support: Support with feelings and emotional needs through discussion or stimulation of memories to enable the person to share their experiences and life stories; intended to counterbalance and help people manage difficult feelings and emotions [60].	Ballard et al. [62], Boersma et al. [77], Chenoweth et al. [64], Eritz et al. [66], Fossey et al. [67], Rokstad et al. [69], Testad et al. [71], van Bogaert et al. [72], van Haitsma et al. [75]	Reminiscence and validation Life history/bibliographical approach interventions	Trained care staff (under supervision of researchers), DCM and VPM champions, special care aides, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, resident care coordinator, trained psychologist, occupational therapist, clinical research nurses, trained nursing home volunteers, supervised CNAs	Individual	Nursing home Urban residential sites	7AM –3 PM or 3PM –11 PM, 10 min –6 h, 2–3 days a week –2 days per 4 months, 2 weeks –10 months	Substantial loss to follow-up (deaths) yielding high non-completion rates. Interruptions in intervention and data collection due to external factors (e.g., influenza outbreak, changes in local laws). Affecting the culture of care within a nursing home. Problems with protocol adherence. Study design did not allow to identify long-term effects nor effect on pharmacological status. Participation decreases in later sessions suggesting necessity to switch over to a maintenance dose.
Training and support for professional caregivers (CG): A change of interactions between professional CGs and patients with dementia, including: psycho-education; integrated family support, training in awareness and problem solving; and support groups [59].	Ballard et al. [62], Boersma et al. [77], Chenoweth et al. [64], Chenoweth et al. [63], Eritz et al. [66], Fossey et al. [67], Lawton et al. [68], Rokstad et al. [69], Tay et al. [78], Testad et al. [71], van Bogaert et al. [72], van de Ven et al. [73], van Weert et al. [76], Verbeek et al. [79]	Prof CG education and training (incl. education in antipsychotic drug use) Prof CG support Family support (education/emotional support for family, including family in care decisions)	Trained care staff (under supervision of researchers/external experts from e.g., patient association groups), DCM and VPM champions, special care aides, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, resident care coordinator, trained psychologist, occupational therapist, CNAs, rabbi, social workers, a trained multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, a social worker, dietician, pharmacist, physio-, occupational-, speech- and music therapists and volunteers, trained and certified DCM-mappers, family caregivers	Individual and/or group	Nursing home Urban residential sites Residential aged care homes Hospital specialized care unit Long-term institutional nursing care	Training 2 –4 days once –4 –7 h twice monthly, 4 –12 months Supervision: 2 –16 h once –1 –2 days weekly, 4 –10 months	Substantial loss to follow-up (deaths) yielding high non-completion rates. Inability to control for facility-initiated improvements in the control group. Interruptions in intervention and data collection due to external factors (e.g., influenza outbreak, changes in local laws). Intervention was delivered to some control wards. Problems with protocol adherence/compliance. A culture of resistance against intervention/suspicion about intrusion of outsiders among staff and management, hence problem with protocol adherence. Study design did not allow to identify long-term effects nor effect on pharmacological status. Participation decreases in later sessions suggesting necessity to switch over to a maintenance dose. Allocation not randomized, some differences in outcomes existed already at baseline.
Environmental adjustments: Modifications of the living environment, including the visual environment, to ease agitation and/or wandering and promote safety [60].	Ballard et al. [62], Chenoweth et al. [63], Fossey et al. [67], Verbeek et al. [79]	Physical aids, adaptions of environment, assistive technology, signage, reduce noise and clutter, small-scale home-like care environment	Trained care staff, facilitators trained by external experts among staff at each site, trained psychologist, occupational therapist, CNAs, family caregivers	Individual and/or group	Nursing home Residential aged care homes Long-term institutional nursing care	60 min weekly, 1 – 7 days per week, 4 – 12 months	Substantial loss to follow-up (deaths) yielding high non-completion rates. Inability to control for facility-initiated improvements in the control group. Problems with protocol adherence/compliance. A culture of resistance against intervention/suspicion about intrusion of outsiders among staff and management, incl. lack of willingness to make PCE-changes. Allocation not randomized, some differences in outcomes existed already at baseline.
Care organization: Connection of different services around the person; advice and negotiation about the delivery of services from multiple providers on behalf of the person [60].	Ballard et al. [62], Chenoweth et al. [64], Chenoweth et al. [63], Fossey et al. [67], Lawton et al. [68], Rokstad et al. [69], Tay et al. [78], Testad et al. [71], van de Ven et al. [73], Verbeek et al. [79], Villar et al. [80]	Interdisciplinary/integrated care planning (incl. consistent staffing), case management Special units (e.g., in hospitals) Shared decision making	Trained care staff (under supervision of researchers), facilitators (e.g., clinical research nurses) trained by external experts among staff at each site, DCM and VPM champions, trained psychologist, occupational therapist, CNAs, rabbi, social workers, a trained multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, a social worker, dietician, pharmacist, physio-, occupational-, speech- and music therapists and volunteers, trained and certified DCM-mappers, family caregivers	Individual and/or group	Nursing home Urban residential sites Residential aged care homes Hospital specialized care unit Long-term institutional nursing care	20 min –6 h, 2 days per week, 2 weeks –12 months	Substantial loss to follow-up (deaths) yielding high non-completion rates. Inability to control for facility-initiated improvements in the control group. Problems with protocol adherence/compliance. A culture of resistance against intervention/suspicion about intrusion of outsiders among staff and management, incl. lack of willingness to make PCE-changes. Interruptions in intervention and data collection due to external factors (e.g., changes in local laws). Allocation not randomized, some differences in outcomes existed already at baseline.

Abbreviations: CNAs, Certified Nurse Aides; DCM, Dementia Care Mapping; VIPS Framework, valuing people with dementia (V), individualized care (I), understanding the world from the patient’s perspective (P) and providing a social environment that supports the needs of the patient (S); VPM, VIPS Practice Model.

^*Oriented in Dickson et al. [59] and Clarkson et al. [60].

^**As indicated in text, where concrete information about the interventions’ implementation process could not be identified, we report information about problems and/or (methodological) limitations the authors faced.

^***As the multi-component intervention studies included several interventions, which allowed for categorization of the study in several categories, some listed provider descriptions are repeated in several columns.