107Seven Dementia Palliative Care Guidance Documents

Abstract

Background: There has been growing recognition of the complexities involved in providing palliative and end-of-life care for people with dementia. However there is a notable void of practice guidelines to support health and social care staff to do so. Aim(s): To develop a suite of guidance documents for health and social care staff working in all care settings to assist them in the delivery of palliative and end of life care with people with dementia. Method(s): A desk top review of Irish literature on dementia and palliative care was completed and compared against an Irish review of the educational needs of staff working with people with dementia. Following a process of consultation and feedback seven care domains were agreed upon as focus for the documents. An expert advisory group (EAG) was convened for the development of each document and a project advisory group was in place to oversee their overall development. Literature reviews were carried out and consensus within each EAG was achieved. Key themes from the literature informed key considerations and guidance. Result(s): Seven guidance documents with accompanying factsheets, listed below, were developed. 1. Facilitating discussions on future and end of life care with a person with dementia 2. Advance care planning and advance healthcare directives with a person with dementia 3. Loss and grief in dementia 4. Management of hydration and nutrition 5. Pain assessment and management 6. Ethical decision making in end of life care for the person with dementia 7. Medication and dementia: Palliative assessment and management Conclusion(s): The documents are available for use and require translation into practice so that people with dementia can be assured that their palliative care needs are appropriately addressed.