Palliative care for patients with communication and cognitive difficulties

To help increase the confidence of both caregivers and clinicians in providing palliative care to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) using an easy-to-follow framework to improve and overcome barriers to effective palliative care in this population.

A literature review was conducted to explore recent best evidence to address these palliative care needs and to allow for a focused opportunity to consider the details of implementing clinical practice guidelines in the palliative care context. Evidence ranges from level I to level III.

Pain and psychological and emotional distress are important issues for individuals with IDD, as they can be difficult to assess and measure, and often present atypically, especially in those with limited communication skills. Further, little is known about end-of-life needs in the adult population with IDD, especially for those living in community residences. The conducted literature review of patient, caregiver, and clinician experiences exposed considerable barriers, including incorrect assumptions about patients' capacity to understand and discomfort of both caregivers and clinicians with open communication. This has resulted in exclusion of adults with IDD from their own care, which has proven harmful. Maximizing time in familiar surroundings and establishing trust and continuity are crucial. Sometimes trial and error with empiric use of comfort medications is necessary, but this can be mitigated with careful examination of distress patterns and judicious use of diagnostic testing. It is always best to integrate the palliative approach into the existing pattern of care.

The validated tools and recommendations provided will assist with communication, symptom interpretation, treatment decisions, advanced care planning, addressing grief, and important considerations in end-of-life care.