Developing and testing a strategy to enhance a palliative approach and care continuity for people who have dementia: study overview and protocol

Source: BMC Palliative Care

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Date of publication: April 2012

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This project trialed a strategy intended to support a consistent, high quality, palliative approach for people with dementia drawing close to death. The strategy was to implement two communities of practice, drawn primarily from service provider organizations across care sectors, supporting them to address practice change. Communities comprised practitioners and other health professionals with a passionate commitment to dementia palliative care and the capacity to drive practice enhancement within partnering organisations.

Length of publication: 16 pages

Nurse-led support improves dementia care at end of life

Source: Journal of Dementia Care Vol. 19(6) p18-19

Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article look at the role of the ‘Nurse Facilitator for End of Life Care (Dementia)’ which is aimed at improving end of life care in the community for people with dementia in Lambeth and Southwark. The time-limited role to enhance the end of life care skills of staff in nursing homes and in the community, including training on pain assessment and communication with other professionals, is described

Length of publication: 2 pages

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An exploration of palliative care provision in Scottish care homes

British Journal of Nursing vol. 21(1) p 8 – 15

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Date of Publication:  January 2012

Publication Type: Article

In a nutshell: This paper explores the suggestion that there is an imbalance between the ideal and the actual palliative care provision for some older people living and dying in care homes in Scotland. Successive studies demonstrate that care home residents are increasingly frail and disabled. Many experience challenging physical and psychosocial symptoms which could benefit from a palliative approach to alleviate suffering and promote comfort. However, palliative needs for people with non-malignant conditions, such as dementia, can be complex, and not easily identified or managed.

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Spreading best practice in dementia and end of life care

Source:  Advancing Quality Alliance

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Date of publication:  April 2011

Publication type:  Case Study

In a nutshell:   Led by Greater Manchester and Cheshire Palliative Care Network, this project aims to build on existing end of life care tools such as the Gold Standard Framework and the Liverpool Care Pathway.  The objective is to provide sets of tools that equip GP and out-of-hours providers to make better decisions about end of life care for dementia suffers which will result in the provision of more appropriate care and significant cost savings. 

Length of publication: 2 pages

Most hospices and palliative care programmes in the USA serve people with dementia; lack of awareness, need for respite care and reimbursement policies are the main barriers to providing this care

Source: Evidence-Based Nursing 2011;14:40-41

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article addresses the issue of access to palliative care for people with dementia. It seeks to determine the extent of palliative provision within hospice and non-hospice settings across the USA and also explores barriers and priorities to the provision of such services.

Length of publication: 2 pages

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Care towards the end of life for people with dementia: an online resource guide

Title: Care towards the end of life for people with dementia: an online resource guide

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link to download the resource document.

Date: October 2010

Publication Type: Resource guide

Publication Length: 43 pages

In a nutshell:  Care towards the end of life for people with dementia: an online resource guide, links a wide range of useful resources and case studies illustrating the delivery of high quality end of life care that meets the special requirements of people with dementia and their families. This new resource emphasises the importance of partnership working between professionals who work in dementia and their counterparts in palliative or end of life care. This resource includes a section on commissioning end of life care for people with dementia.

Looking from the outside in.

Source: Nursing Standard, v. 24(47) p20-1

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Date: July 2010

Publication type: Article

Publication length: 2 pages

In a nutshell: This article discusses provision of palliative care to elderly people with dementia by a specialist nurse employed by the organisation Housing 21. Housing 21 provide residential care and support services to elderly people in London.

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End of life care for community dwelling older people with dementia: an integrated review

Source: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Vol. 25(4) p329-37

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Date: April 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: Literature review of qualitative and quantitative research into terminal care for people with dementia living in care homes and in the community. The need for recognition that death is approaching, assessment of symptom management needs, difficulties in advance care planning and carer involvement in decision making are discussed.

Length of publication: 9 pages

Some important notes: Contact your local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to find your local health library.

Palliative care in dementia: consensus in North Tyneside

Title: Palliative care in dementia: consensus in North Tyneside

Source: European Journal of Palliative Care 2010, 17(2), p92-5

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Date of Publication: March/ April 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article looks at the task of improving palliative care services to patients with dementia in North Tyneside. Areas for improvement by an interdisciplinary team include advance care planning, psychological support, management of acute events and terminal care.

Length of Publication: 4 Pages

Acknowledgement: British Nursing Index (BNI)

MPs call for better checks on how PCTs spend dementia strategy money

Title: MPs call for better checks on how PCTs spend dementia strategy money

Source: Alzheimer’s Society

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Date of publication: March 2010

In a nutshell: The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for dementia has called for dementia strategy funding to be better monitored and audited in light of the information that more than two thirds of PCTs are unable to say if or how they have spent funds allocated to them under the National Dementia Strategy for England.

Length of publication: 1 page

The Power of Partnership: Palliative Care in Dementia

Title: The Power of Partnership: Palliative Care in Dementia

Source: NCPC

Date of Publication: December 2009

Publication Type: Report

In a nutshell: This report examines the need for stronger partnerships between dementia care and palliative care services to bring about improved care for people with dementia at the end of life. It also makes recommendations as to what’s required from dementia care services and from palliative care services, and gives examples of partnerships already underway. Informed by the latest research and policy on palliative and dementia care, and written by experts from a range of clinical and policy backgrounds, it aims to encourage wider discussion on this complex but extremely important area of care.

Length of Publication:35p.

Some important notes: Contact your local health library for a copy of this publication. Follow link to find your local health library

Acknowledgements: NCPC; Alzheimer’s Society; for dementia

An end-of-life care initiative for people with dementia

Source: European Journal of Palliative Care 2009, vol. 16(5) p240-3

Date: Sept/ Oct 2009

Publication Type: Article

In a nutshell: This article examines research carried out in NHS North West Greater Manchester PCT  evaluating the use of the Gold Standards Framework and the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient, as models of care to improve the quality of end-of-life care for older patients with dementia in long-term care settings. The effects on patients, their families, carers and staff were assessed.

Length of Publication: 3 pages

Acknowledgements: British Nursing Index

Notes: Contact your local health library to obtain a copy of this article. There are no links available to the abstract of this article.

Social care workforce not ready to deliver dementia care

Source: Alzheimer’s Society

In a nutshell: An influential group of MPs and Peers are calling for all staff working in social care to receive dementia training appropriate to their role after a report published today (16 June).

The report revealed the workforce is unfit to deliver quality care for people with dementia. ‘Prepared to Care’ a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia found large variation in the dementia skills of the social care workforce. Barriers to delivering good care included low levels of training, ineffective regulation, lack of accreditation for trainers and a limited understanding of dementia by commissioners.

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Document Type: Website

Caring for Aged Dementia Care Resident Study (CADRES) of person-centred care, dementia-care mapping, and usual care in dementia: a cluster-randomised trial

Title: Caring for Aged Dementia Care Resident Study (CADRES) of person-centred care, dementia-care mapping, and usual care in dementia: a cluster-randomised trial

Author: Chenoweth L et al

Date: April 2009

Source: The Lancet Neurology, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages 317 – 325

In a nutshell: The article discusses that evidence for improved outcomes for people with dementia through provision of person-centred care and dementia-care mapping is largely observational. The authors aimed to do a large, randomised comparison of person-centred care, dementia-care mapping, and usual care. Results suggest person-centred care and dementia-care mapping both seem to reduce agitation in people with dementia in residential care.

Document length: 18 pages

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