Dementia and palliative care

Although patients with dementia are considered to have a terminal illness, they are often subjected to or continued on therapies that can lead to unnecessary suffering. Palliative care, which strives to provide patients with a peaceful and dignified final phase of life, is an important treatment approach for these patients. This article discusses several palliative care practices that can be incorporated into the care of individuals with dementia, including strategies for minimizing the medical burden on patients (eg, reducing polypharmacy), assessing for and managing pain, and managing psychiatric symptoms or syndromes (eg, delirium, depression, sleep disturbances).