Posted: January 12th, 2024
Alzheimer’s Patients’ Palliative Care
Alzheimer’s Patients’ Palliative Care
Palliative care is a specialized medical care that aims to improve the quality of life for people with serious illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes progressive loss of memory, thinking and reasoning abilities, affecting the person’s daily functioning and independence. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and the symptoms worsen over time, leading to death. Palliative care can help people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers cope with the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges of living with and dying from this disease.
Palliative care can be provided by a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and other specialists who work together with the person’s regular doctors. Palliative care can be started at any time after the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, but the earlier the better, as it can offer an extra layer of support from the beginning. Palliative care can help treat some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, such as depression, anxiety, pain and difficulty sleeping. The team can also teach the person and their family about what might trigger some of the behavioral symptoms, such as agitation, aggression or wandering, and how to avoid or manage them. One of the main techniques used in planning the daily care is maintaining a routine that is familiar and comfortable for the person.
Palliative care can also help the person and their family make medical decisions that align with their goals, values and preferences. The team can help them discuss what is important to them, how and where they want to be cared for, and what level of care they would want in the future. As the disease progresses, palliative care can help the family plan for the end-of-life care for the person, either at home, in an assisted living facility or a nursing home. The team can help them deal with issues such as feeding difficulties, infection, hospitalization and comfort measures. Palliative care can also provide emotional and spiritual support for the person and their family during this difficult time.
Palliative care can be received in different settings, such as in the hospital, outpatient clinic or at home. Some hospices also offer palliative care for people with Alzheimer’s disease who have a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospices are specialized programs that provide compassionate care for people who are dying and their families. Hospices have experience working with people with dementia and can help them have a peaceful and dignified death.
References:
– Alzheimer’s Disease and Palliative Care | Get Palliative Care. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://getpalliativecare.org/whatis/disease-types/alzheimers-disease-palliative-care/
– End-of-Life Care for People With Dementia | National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/end-life/end-life-care-people-dementia
– Dementia and end of life planning – NHS. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/living-with-dementia/palliative-care/
– End-of-life care | Alzheimer Society of Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/im-caring-person-living-dementia/end-life-care