End of life care and family support for patients with dementia

Running Head: End of life care and family support for patients with dementia.
END OF LIFE CARE AND FAMILY SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS
WITH DEMENTIA

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End of life care and family support for patients with dementia.
Table of Contents
1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................3
1.2 Definition of the topic................................................................................................................4
1.3 Search strategy...........................................................................................................................5
1.4 Evaluation and critical discussion of literature..........................................................................6
1.4.1 Dementia is everybody's business......................................................................................6
1.4.2 Palliative aged residential care guideline...........................................................................7
1.4.3 Guideline for providing care to people with dementia.......................................................8
1.4.4 Importance of communication between older people and their family..............................8
1.4.5 Role played by family in directing care..............................................................................9
1.4.6 Palliative care for dementia patients in New Zealand......................................................10
1.5 Discussion and Conclusion......................................................................................................13
Reference list.................................................................................................................................17

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End of life care and family support for patients with dementia.
1.1 Introduction
Dementia is considered as a progressive condition that has no cure and it is essential to get
prepared for the final stage. As stages of this disease progress, patients get more dependent on
conducting daily activities and care. Advance care planning is essential that helps to gather
knowledge about essential steps that can be taken during advanced stage of dementia
(Alzheimers.org.nz, 2018). Planning includes collection of evidence regarding different
requirements of dementia patients, which must be provided through external support. A power of
attorney is essential that is a legal document, which enables other people to look after the
interests of a person if that person is unable to perform. Palliative care is about providing relief to
a dying person and providing them the best quality of life (Moh.govt.nz, 2017). This process of
care is not about curing the disease but to provide some relief from suffering of the disease and
maintaining comfort level.
This study has been selected because knowledge about palliative care can help to increase
expertise in this sector. Different knowledge about care process, formalities, and required
resources is essential to plan and design the care process. Moreover, knowledge regarding the
role of family needs to be gained. Family plays an essential role in this process because they
have prompt knowledge about different requirements of the patients. Hence, care process can be
planned well through inclusion of family members. In this study, different kinds of literature
have been collected that has knowledge regarding the topic. Hence, different lessons like
planning information, role of caregiver and family can be earned from this study.

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End of life care and family support for patients with dementia.
1.2 Definition of the topic
Aim of this study is to review literature based on palliative care for older adults with dementia
and develop findings from the review, which can help in improving the process of providing care
to older dementia patients.
Discussion of the topic
Dementia is very common in older people and this mental disorder makes people dependent on
others. This is not a disease and this term refers to a set of activities that prevent a person to do
their daily activities. In this mental situation, people lose their ability to think and make decisions
of their own. As mentioned by Sternberg et al. (2019), partial memory loss is one of the main
symptoms of dementia. In this kind of situation, older people must get palliative care from
healthcare professionals like nurses and their family members. Family support at this point may
encourage people to cooperate with the medical process for their wellbeing. Providing care to
older people with dementia is considered as end-of-life care and healthcare organizations provide
training to their staff regarding the process of handling older dementia patients.
Family members of these patients need to communicate with them for understanding their issues.
It is important to help them to cope up with this mental condition at the end of their life. Positive
attitude towards these patients enhance their confidence level and they start trusting the medical
system. This approach is good for their wellbeing. Healthcare professionals are liable to educate
others, including patients and their relatives regarding dementia. Palliative care and family
support are two important aspects that can help in dementia. Patients must share their problems
with family members to help them to get possible solutions. On the other hand, Amador,