Living and dying with advanced dementia: A prospective cohort study of symptoms, service use and care at the end of life.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Increasing number of people are dying with advanced dementia. Comfort and quality of life are key goals of care.

Aims

To describe (1) physical and psychological symptoms, (2) health and social care service utilisation and (3) care at end of life in people with advanced dementia.

Design

9-month prospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

Greater London, England, people with advanced dementia (Functional Assessment Staging Scale 6e and above) from 14 nursing homes or their own homes.

Main outcome measures

At study entry and monthly: prescriptions, Charlson Comorbidity Index, pressure sore risk/severity (Waterlow Scale/Stirling Scale, respectively), acute medical events, pain (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia), neuropsychiatric symptom

SUBMITTER: Sampson EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5987852 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature