Authors
  • Helga Merl1,
  • Helga Merl2
Organisations
  • Unknown1,
  • Central Coast Area Health Service2
Year

2003

Excerpt

Today:

  • Palliative Care as a model to guide us through the bioethical issues for end stage dementia
  • Basic Dementia Statistics
  • What dementia is
  • 3 stage model of dementia
  • S & S of end stage

Are we up to the Challenge?:

  • Australia is a world leader in aged care
  • So much is known about dementia now
  • According to Bretbart et al, 1995 we have failed in the past
  • Lets get it right for the future

Understanding the Nature of Dementia:

  • Brain failure
  • Terminal disease
  • 3 stages

Telling the Family:

  • It is important to tell the family and caregivers when you think the client is in the end-stage of the illness. Emphasize that the exact prognosis is uncertain but that goals of care often are different in this stage.

If we take a palliative approach to end-stage dementia not only should the client and family benefit but I believe we can address these challenging end of life issues in a professional, sensitive, efficient and most of all, human way.

Please click on the following link for the full abstract:
http://alzheimers2003.conferencemedia.com.au/cmws/03-034/ppt/Merl(Thurs1330).pps