From the ArcaMax Publishing, Science & Technology Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/technology/s-347866-852927
MILTON KEYNES, England (UPI) -- British researchers say many
improvements are needed in the care provided to people in the final
stages of dementia.
Open University Professor Jan Draper and Clinical Nurse Specialist
Deborah Birch reached that conclusion after reviewing 29 published
studies conducted in nine nations during the past 10 years.
"We must act now to stop people with dementia from suffering from
protracted, potentially uncomfortable and undignified deaths" said
Draper. "Our review has reinforced the importance of providing
appropriate palliative care to individuals suffering from end-stage
dementia and clearly identified some of the barriers to extending such
provision."
The recommendations include: communicating the diagnosis of dementia
in a sensitive way; acknowledging the potential influence on treatment
decisions on the beliefs and values of members of the healthcare team;
and reconsidering aggressive medical treatments that have limited
benefits and might cause further discomfort to dying patients.
The review appears in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.