Abstract With the global rise in the number of people living with dementia, the creation of inclusive spaces that support independence and quality of life has become increasingly urgent. This systematic review synthesizes 76 peer-reviewed studies published between 2014 and 2024 on the use of digital technologies in dementia-friendly environments (DFEs). To make sense of a rapidly evolving field, the review adopts a practice-oriented, five-dimensional framework spanning smart building frameworks, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), assistive robotics and sensor integration, remote health and activity monitoring systems, and multisensory stimulation and user-experience design. These dimensions are explicitly derived from core DFEs design principles (safety and comfort, autonomy and activities of daily living, cognitive support and orientation, social participation, and affect regulation) and cover the full continuum from building-scale infrastructures to micro-level human–environment interactions. The review also distinguishes between early-generation systems (2014–2017), dominated by single-function ambient assisted living (AAL) prototypes and non-immersive VR, and new-generation systems (2018–2024), which increasingly employ head-mounted VR/AR, IoT-based multi-sensor smart homes and AI-enhanced decision support in real-world settings. Across these generations, the evidence shows that new-generation VR can improve spatial navigation and wayfinding in people with mild dementia, but benefits are far less clear for moderate-to-severe stages and are constrained by cybersickness, interface complexity and safety concerns. IoT-based sensor systems demonstrate more robust and consistent effects on safety outcomes (e.g. fall detection, wandering prevention) across home, residential and community environments. Multisensory environments and user-experience interventions support emotional regulation and engagement in daily activities, while assistive robots and remote monitoring systems show promise for reducing caregiver burden and supporting autonomy but raise significant questions about privacy, data governance and cost. Rather than offering generic claims that “technology is beneficial”, this review maps concrete technological configurations to specific spatial goals, settings and dementia stages before the introduction of complex immersive or AI-driven systems. The review concludes that while digital technologies have transformative potential for creating more supportive, engaging and safe environments, their deployment must be guided by nuanced, generation-sensitive evidence, explicit data-governance frameworks and a commitment to personalized, human-centred care.
Chen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.