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de Sola-Smith K, Gilissen J, van der Steen JT, Mayan I, Van den Block L, Ritchie CS, Hunt LJ. Palliative Care in Early Dementia. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 68:e206-e227. [PMID: 38848792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palliative care is recommended for all people with dementia from diagnosis through end-of-life. However, palliative care needs and effective elements of palliative care are not well-defined for the earlier stages of dementia. OBJECTIVE To systematically map current research on palliative care early in the disease trajectory of dementia. DESIGN Scoping review of scientific literature. DATA SOURCES PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsycINFO, Web of Science. REVIEW METHODS We included studies published in English over the last decade (through March 2022) that focused on palliative care in early stages of dementia and targeted outcomes in palliative care domains. Two authors independently screened abstracts and full texts and scored the quality of included studies using tools by the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS Among the 77 papers reviewed, few addressed early stages of dementia specifically. We found that: 1) While "early" palliative care was not well-defined in the literature, evidence indicated that palliative care needs were present at or before diagnosis and across the trajectory. Notable opportunities for palliative care arise at 'tipping points' (i.e., when symptoms, functional status, or caregiving needs change). 2) Palliative care needs in early dementia include advocacy for goal-aligned care in the future, reassurance against the threat of negligence and abandonment by caregivers, planning for future scenarios of care (practical, individual, and relational needs), and establishing of long-term relationships with providers entrusted for care later in disease. 3) Elements of effective palliative care in early dementia could include dementia-specific ACP and goals of care discussions, navigation for building a network of support, provision of tools and resources for family, tailored care and knowledge of the person, and well-prepared dementia-care providers. The scarcity of palliative care studies aimed at early disease indicates a gap in the evidence in dementia care. CONCLUSION The literature on palliative care in early dementia is sparse. Future studies should focus on assessment tools for optimizing timing of palliative care in early dementia, gaining better understanding of patient and family needs during early phases of disease, and providing training for providers and families in long-term relationships and communication around goals of care and future planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen de Sola-Smith
- Department of Geriatrics (K.d.S.), Palliative and Extended Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Physiological Nursing (K.d.S., L.J.H.), University of California San Francisco, California, USA.
| | - Joni Gilissen
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) (J.G., I.M., C.S.R., L.J.H.), University of California San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care (J.G., L.V.B), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Universiteit Gent, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of Primary and Community Care and Radboudumc Alzheimer Center (J.T.S.), Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Public Health and Primary Care (J.T.S.), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Inbal Mayan
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) (J.G., I.M., C.S.R., L.J.H.), University of California San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lieve Van den Block
- Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care (J.G., L.V.B), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Universiteit Gent, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christine S Ritchie
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) (J.G., I.M., C.S.R., L.J.H.), University of California San Francisco, California, USA; Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine and the Mongan Institute for Aging and Serious Illness (CASI) (C.S.R.), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School (C.S.R.), Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lauren J Hunt
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) (J.G., I.M., C.S.R., L.J.H.), University of California San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Physiological Nursing (K.d.S., L.J.H.), University of California San Francisco, California, USA; Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies (L.J.H.), University of California San Francisco, California, USA
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Flaherty CN, Carter PA, Smith L, Lerner N, Hooper G, Bail JR. Community-based early dementia advance care planning in the United States: A scoping review. Geriatr Nurs 2023; 52:63-72. [PMID: 37247492 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Noelle Flaherty
- Joint Nursing Science Ph.D. Program, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA; The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
| | - Patricia A Carter
- The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
| | - Lenora Smith
- The University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
| | - Nancy Lerner
- The University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| | - Gwendolyn Hooper
- The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
| | - Jennifer R Bail
- The University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
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Aldridge MD. The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: High-Quality, Nonhospice, Community-Based Care for Persons with Dementia. J Palliat Med 2022; 25:1324-1325. [PMID: 36066951 PMCID: PMC11265606 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa D. Aldridge
- Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
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Harrison KL, Cenzer I, Ankuda CK, Hunt LJ, Aldridge MD. Hospice Improves Care Quality For Older Adults With Dementia In Their Last Month Of Life. HEALTH AFFAIRS (PROJECT HOPE) 2022; 41:821-830. [PMID: 35666964 PMCID: PMC9662595 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The Medicare hospice benefit was originally designed around a cancer disease paradigm but increasingly serves people living with dementia. At this time, almost half of all older adults receiving hospice care have dementia. Yet there is minimal evidence as to whether hospice benefits people living with dementia outside of nursing facilities. We asked whether and how the perceived quality of last-month-of-life care differed between people with and without dementia and whether hospice use among people living with dementia was associated with perceived quality of care compared with the quality of care for those who did not use hospice. We used nationally representative data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study and Medicare claims from the period 2011-17 to examine the impact of hospice enrollment on proxy perceptions of last-month-of-life care quality. Proxies of people living with dementia enrolled in hospice compared with proxies of those not enrolled more often reported care to be excellent (predicted probability: 52 percent versus 41 percent), more often reported having anxiety or sadness managed (67 percent versus 46 percent), and less often reported changes in care settings in the last three days of life (10 percent versus 25 percent). There were no differences in the impact of hospice on proxy ratings of care for people with and without dementia. Policy makers should consider these benefits when weighing changes to hospice policy and regulations that may affect people living with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista L Harrison
- Krista L. Harrison , University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Irena Cenzer
- Irena Cenzer, University of California San Francisco
| | - Claire K Ankuda
- Claire K. Ankuda, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Lauren J Hunt
- Lauren J. Hunt, University of California San Francisco
| | - Melissa D Aldridge
- Melissa D. Aldridge, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and James J. Peters Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York
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