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Palliative care for dementia--time to think again?
J Crowther1, K C M Wilson, S Horton
1Academic Palliative and Supportive Care Studies Group, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, Waterhouse Buildings, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
QJM : Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians
|April 6, 2013
Summary
Dementia care at the end of life is often inadequate. This review examines informal carer experiences to improve dementia care models for future community settings.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Palliative Care
Background:
- Over 35.6 million people globally have dementia, with numbers projected to exceed 115 million by 2050.
- Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative condition significantly impacting survival.
- End-of-life care for dementia patients is frequently suboptimal compared to other life-limiting illnesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore determinants of care for people with dementia and their family carers.
- To discuss new perspectives on end-of-life care models for dementia patients.
- To identify implementation strategies for improved dementia care in community settings.
Main Methods:
- Review of results from a large UK study involving informal carers of people with dementia.
- Analysis of care determinants and carer experiences.
- Discussion of novel care models and their community-based delivery.
Main Results:
- Identified key factors influencing care for individuals with dementia.
- Highlighted the challenges faced by informal carers.
- Explored potential improvements in end-of-life dementia care provision.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need to enhance end-of-life care for dementia patients.
- Understanding informal carer experiences is crucial for improving care quality.
- New models of care are needed for effective implementation in community settings to address the growing dementia population.
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