Palliative care dementia interface: enhancing community capacity.

Dementia is recognised as a progressive terminal illness for which there is currently no cure” (Lloyd-Williams, Payne 2002). There are many issues in the care of patients with dementia that parallel those in palliative cancer care (Lloyd-Williams& Payne, 2002). The issue of a perceived deficit in the knowledge and practice of key providers of care about the palliative needs of end stage dementia clients is a major contributing factor to the under-utilisation of mainstream palliative care principles in these clients. This highlights the need for key providers of care to become responsive and orientated to the specific palliative care requirements of individuals experiencing end stage dementia. The proposed project will enhance the capacity of key providers of care in the delivery of direct service provision to be responsive in this area. This is necessary to the establishment of best practice and improved outcomes for clients, family and key providers of care.

Resources:

• Palliative care dementia interface: enhancing community capacity: Project Overview
• Palliative care dementia interface: enhancing community capacity: Executive Summary

Family Information Booklet
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