End-stage dementia patients deserve the same access to palliative care as people with cancer

“Palliative care services are used to providing care for cancer patients, but high-quality care for people with end-stage dementia does not appear to be given the same priority” says Professor Draper.

“In the UK, for example, it has been a relatively neglected topic in relation to policy, planning, practice development and training.

“Population trends suggest that life expectancy is increasing and this will mean that more people are at risk of developing dementia, which affects one in 1,000 people under 65 but rises to one in five once people are over 85.

“Dementia is a progressive terminal illness for which there is currently no cure and patients dying from the disease have significant healthcare needs.

“Despite this, they are often denied the palliative care services that could improve their comfort and quality of life.”

Notes to editors

• A critical literature review exploring the challenges of delivering effective palliative care to older people with dementia. Birch D and Draper J. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 17, 1144-1163. (May 2008)
  
  
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