Experiences of end of life amongst family carers of people with advanced dementia: longitudinal cohort study with mixed methods

The matter of grief, loss and bereavement in families of those living and dying in residential aged care setting: A systematic review

The grief, loss and bereavement needs of the families of those living and dying in residential aged care setting is not very well understood. This systematic review examines grief, loss, and bereavement experience of, and interventions relating to, family caregivers of those entering, living and dying in residential aged care. Out of 2023 papers that were identified, 35 met the inclusion criteria which included (n=28) qualitative and (n=7) quantitative intervention studies. The qualitative findings indicated quality of care provided to the resident at the end of their life, and after death care influenced family caregivers' grief reactions. The intervention studies revealed that educational interventions have the potential to lead to some benefits in the context of grief loss and bereavement outcomes. Recognizing the emotional experiences and support needs of families and carers may enhance the understanding of the ageing, caring, dying, grieving pathway for older people and their families.

Good Death and Quality of End-of-Life Care in Patients with Coexisting Cancer and Dementia: Perspective of Bereaved Families

Background

Patients with coexisting cancer and dementia often have complex health care needs and face challenges in achieving a good death.

Objectives

To evaluate good death achievement and end-of-life (EOL) care in patients with coexisting cancer and dementia from the perspective of bereaved families.

Design

Cross-sectional nationwide postal survey.

Setting/Subjects

Bereaved families of patients with cancer who died in hospice and palliative care units across Japan.

Measurements

Bereaved families completed an anonymous, self-reported questionnaire. Their perspective on achieving a good death was assessed using the Good Death Inventory (GDI) (total score: 18-126). The Revised Care Evaluation Scale-short version (CES2) was used to assess EOL care (total score: 10-60). We examined the Brief Grief Questionnaire (BGQ) (total score: 0-10) and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9) (total score: 0-27).

Results

Data from 670 participants were analyzed, including 83 (12.4%) bereaved families of patients with coexisting cancer and dementia. No statistical differences were observed in the total GDI score for 18 items (dementia comorbidity vs. nondementia comorbidity groups, mean ± standard deviation, respectively, 78.4 ± 17.7 vs. 80.0 ± 15.5, adjusted [adj] P = 0.186), CES2 score (49.70 ± 9.22 vs. 48.82 ± 8.40, adj P = 0.316), BGQ score (3.40 ± 2.41 vs. 4.36 ± 2.28, adj P = 0.060), and PHQ9 score (4.67 ± 4.71 vs. 5.50 ± 5.37, adj P = 0.788).

Conclusions

GDI, CES2, BGQ, and PHQ9 scores did not differ significantly between groups, regardless of the presence of dementia in hospice and palliative care units. Patients with coexisting cancer and dementia can achieve a good death by high-quality EOL care.

Identifying the active content of interventions targeting the psychological well-being of carers of people with motor neuron disease: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The primary aim of this research was to use a taxonomy of behavior change techniques (BCTTv1) to identify, map, and describe the active components of intervention and comparator groups in studies evaluating the psychological well-being (PWB) of motor neuron disease (MND) carers. Secondary aims were to (a) identify absent active ingredients and (b) explore whether variability in the effectiveness of interventions targeting the PWB of MND carers could be better explained through improved characterization of the active content of these interventions.

METHODS

Mixed-methods systematic review based on Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods reviews and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Content-coding of interventions targeting the PWB of MND carers using BCTTv1 was conducted.

RESULTS

Sixteen manuscripts describing 14 studies were included. Forty-one of the possible 93 behavior change techniques (BCTs, 44%) were identified as active ingredients, while 52 BCTs (56%) were absent. BCTs were identified in all 14 intervention groups and 4 control groups. Four of the 16 overall BCTTv1 categories were absent. Eleven of the 14 studies demonstrated PWB benefits from their interventions.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

Identified and absent BCTs and BCTTv1 categories were mapped for all study groups, enabling a transparent characterization of active intervention content associated with positive PWB outcomes. Directions to improve interventions in this nascent field of research included the investigation of relevant untested BCTs in this population and the management of reporting and methodological quality issues.

Portuguese Caregivers of Persons With Alzheimer's Disease in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of the Grieving Process

This study addresses the experiences of informal caregivers caring for elderly family members with Alzheimer's disease (AD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study includes a sample of eight informal caregivers who were evaluated through a semi-structured interview six months after the death of a loved one they cared for. A thematic content analysis was applied to the interviews and yielded two higher-order domains: (1) Experiencing the AD and the death of a family member and (2) The grieving process during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results provide valuable insights into family caregivers' experiences regarding the profound emotional impact of caregiving and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregivers maintain their identity even after loss, underscoring the enduring impact of caregiving. The identity as a caregiver impacted coping and grief responses, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.

A palliative care goals model for people with dementia and their family: Consensus achieved in an international Delphi study

BACKGROUND

Advance care planning in dementia includes supporting the person and their family to consider important goals of care. International research reports the importance of psycho-social-spiritual aspects towards end of life.

AIM

To develop a multidimensional international palliative care goals model in dementia for use in practice.

DESIGN

International Delphi study integrating consensus and evidence from a meta-qualitative study. The Delphi panel rated statements about the model on a 5-point agreement scale. The criteria for consensus were pre-specified.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Seventeen researchers from eight countries developed an initial model, and 169 candidate panellists were invited to the international online Delphi study.

RESULTS

Panellists (107; response 63.3%) resided in 33 countries. The model comprised four main care goals: (1) Comfort ensured; (2) Control over function maintained; (3) Identity protected and personhood respected and (4) Coping with grief and loss-person and caregiver supported. The model reflects how needs and care goals change over time with the progression of dementia, concluding with bereavement support. The first version of the model achieved a consensus after which it was slightly refined based on feedback. We did not achieve a consensus on adding a goal of life prolongation, and on use of the model by people with dementia and family themselves.

CONCLUSION

A new palliative care goals model for people with dementia and their families includes relationship aspects for use by professionals and achieved a consensus among a panel with diverse cultural background. The position of life prolongation in relation to palliative care goals needs further research.

Knowledge Gaps in End-Of-Life Family Caregiving for Persons Living With Dementia: A Study of Hospice Clinician Perspectives

INTRODUCTION

More than 35% of hospice care recipients 65 and older have a dementia diagnosis. Yet family care partners of persons living with dementia report feeling unprepared to address their hospice recipient's changing needs nearing end of life. Hospice clinicians may have unique insight into the knowledge needs of family care partners and strategies for end-of-life dementia caregiving.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 hospice physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and social workers. Interview transcripts were deductively analyzed using thematic analysis to examine clinicians' perspectives on gaps and strategies related to family care partner knowledge about end-of-life dementia caregiving.

RESULTS

We identified 3 themes related to gaps in family care partners' knowledge: dementia is a progressive, fatal disease; end-of-life symptoms and symptom management in persons living with advanced dementia; and understanding hospice goals and guidelines. Three themes related to clinicians' strategies to increase knowledge included: providing education; teaching strategies to facilitate coping and preparedness for end-of-life care; and communicating with empathy.

DISCUSSION

Clinicians perceive gaps in knowledge specific to dementia and end of life among family care partners. These gaps include a lack of understanding of Alzheimer's symptom progression and strategies to manage common symptoms. Recommendations for approaches to reduce knowledge gaps include providing education and strategies delivered with empathy toward the family care partner experience.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians who work with persons living with dementia receiving hospice care have valuable insights regarding family care partners' gaps in knowledge. Implications on the training and preparation of hospice clinicians working with this care partner population are discussed.

Co-design of the EMBED-Care Framework as an intervention to enhance shared decision-making for people affected by dementia and practitioners, comprising holistic assessment, linked with clinical decision support tools: A qualitative study

INTRODUCTION

Shared decision-making intends to align care provision with individuals' preferences. However, the involvement of people living with dementia in decision-making about their care varies. We aimed to co-design the EMBED-Care Framework, to enhance shared decision-making between people affected by dementia and practitioners.

METHODS

A theory and evidence driven co-design study was conducted, using iterative workshops, informed by a theoretical model of shared decision-making and the EMBED-Care Framework (the intervention) for person-centred holistic palliative dementia care. The intervention incorporates a holistic outcome measure for assessment and review, linked with clinical decision-support tools to support shared decision-making. We drew on the Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance for developing and evaluating complex interventions. Participants included people with dementia of any type, current or bereaved family carers and practitioners. We recruited via established dementia groups and research and clinical networks. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to explore how and when the intervention could enhance communication and shared decision-making, and the requirements for use, presented as a logic model.

RESULTS

Five co-design workshops were undertaken with participants comprising people affected by dementia (n = 18) and practitioners (n = 36). Three themes were generated, comprising: (1) 'knowing the person and personalisation of care', involving the person with dementia and/or family carer identifying the needs of the person using a holistic assessment. (2) 'engaging and considering the perspectives of all involved in decision-making' required listening to the person and the family to understand their priorities, and to manage multiple preferences. (3) 'Training and support activities' to use the Framework through use of animated videos to convey information, such as to understand the outcome measure used to assess symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention developed sought to enhance shared decision-making with individuals affected by dementia and practitioners, through increased shared knowledge of individual priorities and choices for care and treatment. The workshops generated understanding to manage disagreements in determining priorities. Practitioners require face-to-face training on the intervention, and on communication to manage sensitive conversations about symptoms, care and treatment with individuals and their family. The findings informed the construction of a logic model to illustrate how the intervention is intended to work.

Understanding what affects psychological morbidity in informal carers when providing care at home for patients at the end of life: a systematic qualitative evidence synthesis

Background

Informal carers are central in supporting patients at the end of life, but this has substantial negative impacts on carers' own mental health. When carers are unable to cope, this may affect their ability to support the patient and increase the likelihood of patient hospital admissions. Further, demographic changes mean demands for care at and before end of life are increasing and existing services will struggle to meet these demands. It is important to recognise carers as a vital resource and prevent adverse health outcomes from caregiving (and thereby limit their consequences). Large individual variation in the level of psychological morbidity from end-of-life caregiving suggests there is scope for interventions to improve carer mental health if we can understand the underlying factors.

Objectives

This meta-synthesis of qualitative studies aims to identify factors reported by carers as important to their mental health.

Data sources

Searches of MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, Social Science Citation Index, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, and Cochrane Qualitative Reviews 1 January 2009 to 24 November 2019 for empirical publications from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries in English/Scandinavian on factors affecting adult carer mental health during end-of-life caregiving in home settings.

Review methods

Systematic qualitative meta-synthesis in collaboration with a Public Patient Involvement carer Review Advisory Panel, included thematic synthesis, followed by a best-fit framework synthesis, informed by principles of meta-ethnography. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Studies Checklist was used.

Results

Thirty-three eligible studies identified six themes encompassing factors perceived by carers to affect their mental health during end-of-life caregiving. These were: (1) the patient condition (including patient decline); (2) impact of caring responsibilities (including exhaustion, lack of time for own needs, isolation); (3) relationships (including quality of the patient-carer relationship); (4) finances (including financial concerns, impact on work); (5) carers' internal processes (including loss of autonomy, lack of confidence, coping strategies); and (6) support (including lack of informal support, inadequacies in formal support information and care provision, limited collaboration, disjointed care). Reported strategies to improve mental health were linked to the final two themes, with suggestions on how to manage carers' internal processes and build appropriate support. Findings correspond with literature 1998-2008, indicating consistency in factors affecting carers and adding validity to findings.

Limitations

The review was limited to caregiving in the home setting and studies from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries published in English and Scandinavian. Identified papers predominantly considered carers of people with cancer, with little research into ethnic-minority perspectives. The review may therefore not fully encompass factors affecting carers of people with longer-term conditions, or those within other care settings, countries and population groups.

Conclusions and future work

A wide range of both internal and contextual factors may lead to psychological morbidity when caring for someone at the end of life. Future work within practice therefore requires a broad-based rather than narrow approach to sustaining and improving carer mental health. Future work within research requires collaboration between researchers and stakeholders within policy, commissioning, practice and carer organisations to develop solutions and assess their effectiveness. Further, researchers need to develop better models for factors affecting carer mental health and their interaction, to build a stronger evidence base and better guide interventions.

Study registration

This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42019130279.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme as award number HSDR 18/01/01 and will be published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Grief in family carers of people living with dementia: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Grief research in family carers of people with dementia has increased. We aimed to report the prevalence of pre-death and post-death grief and to synthesize associated factors and the relationship between pre-death factors and post-death grief and services used to manage grief.

DESIGN

(Prospero protocol: CRD42020165071) We systematically reviewed literature from PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and ASSIA until April 2020. Effectiveness of intervention data and studies not written in English were excluded; qualitative studies were additionally excluded during study selection. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Evidence was narratively summarized.

PARTICIPANTS

Family non-paid carers of somebody with any dementia type.

MEASUREMENTS

Validated measures of pre-death and/or post-death grief.

RESULTS

We included quantitative data from 55 studies (44 rated as high quality). Most included solely spouse or adult child carers. Forty-one studies reported pre-death grief, 12 post-death grief, and 6 service use; eight were longitudinal. 17% met the Prolonged Grief Disorder criteria pre-death (n = 1) and 6-26% (n = 4) of participants met the Complicated Grief criteria post-death. Being a spouse, less educated, caring for somebody with advanced dementia, and greater burden and depression were associated with higher pre-death grief. Lower education level and depression were predictive of higher post-death grief. Pre-death factors found to influence post-death grief were grief and depression. Limited service use evidence was reported.

CONCLUSION

Awareness of characteristics which increase the likelihood of higher grief can help identify those in need of support. Future research should focus on what supports or services are beneficial to grief experiences.

A mixed methods evaluation of a program exploring predeath grief and loss for carers of people with rarer dementias

OBJECTIVES

Predeath grief conceptualizes complex feelings of loss experienced for someone who is still living and is linked to poor emotional well-being. The Road Less Travelled program aimed to help carers of people with rarer dementias identify and process predeath grief. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of this program.

DESIGN

Pre-post interventional mixed methods study.

SETTING

Online videoconference group program for carers across the UK held in 2021.

PARTICIPANTS

Nine family carers of someone living with a rare form of dementia. Eight were female and one male (mean age 58) with two facilitators.

INTERVENTION

The Road Less Travelled is an online, facilitated, group-based program that aims to help carers of people with rarer dementias to explore and accept feelings of grief and loss. It involved six fortnightly 2-hour sessions.

MEASUREMENTS

We collected measures for a range of well-being outcomes at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 3 months post-intervention (T3). We conducted interviews with participants and facilitators at T2.

RESULTS

Participant attendance was 98% across all sessions. Findings from the semistructured interviews supported the acceptability of the program and identified improvements in carer well-being. Trends in the outcome measures suggested an improvement in quality of life and a reduction in depression.

CONCLUSION

The program was feasible to conduct and acceptable to participants. Qualitative reports and high attendance suggest perceived benefits to carers, including increased acceptance of grief, and support the need for a larger-scale pilot study to determine effectiveness.

Palliative care for people with dementia

Dementia is the most common neurologic disease, affecting approximately 55 million people worldwide. Dementia is a terminal illness, although not always recognized as such. This chapter discusses the key issues in providing palliative care for people with living with dementia and their families. Common palliative care needs and symptoms are presented, including psychosocial, physical, emotional, and spiritual, and the need to actively anticipate and seek symptoms according to the dementia type and stage is emphasized. Families are hugely impacted by a dementia diagnosis, and throughout this chapter, they are considered in the unit of care, and also as a member of the care team. Multiple challenges particular to dementia palliative care are highlighted throughout, such as the lack of timely dementia diagnoses, difficulty with symptom prognostication, the person's inability to verbally express their symptoms and care preferences, and a low threshold for medication side effects. Finally, service models for dementia palliative care in community, residential, and acute hospital settings are discussed, along with the evidence for each. Overall, this chapter reinforces that the individual needs of the person living with dementia and their family must be considered to provide person-centered and comprehensive palliative care, enabling them to live well until death.

Cross-cultural conceptualization of a good end of life with dementia: a qualitative study

Background

Research on the nature of a “good death” has mostly focused on dying with cancer and other life-limiting diseases, but less so on dementia. Conceptualizing common cross-cultural themes regarding a good end of life in dementia will enable developing international care models.

Methods

We combined published qualitative studies about end of life with dementia, focus group and individual interviews with the researchers, and video-conferencing and continuous email discussions. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed thematically, and the researchers developed common themes referring to their original studies.

Results

Fourteen qualitative researchers representing 14 cross-cultural studies covering qualitative data of 121 people with dementia and 292 family caregivers. The researchers and data were from eight countries UK, The Netherlands, Japan, Portugal, Germany, Canada, Brazil, and Ireland. Three focus groups, five individual interviews, and video-conferencing were conducted and feedback on multiple iterations was gained by 190 emails between May 2019 and April 2020 until consensus was achieved. Nine cross-culturally common themes emerged from the discussions and shared interpretation of the data of persons with dementia and family caregivers. Three represent basic needs: “Pain and Symptoms Controlled,” “Being Provided Basic Care,” and “A Place like Home.” Other themes were “Having Preferences Met,” “Receiving Respect as a Person,” “Care for Caregivers,” “Identity Being Preserved,” “Being Connected,” and “Satisfaction with Life and Spiritual Well-being.” “Care for Caregivers” showed the greatest difference in emphasis across cultures. Good relationships were essential in all themes.

Conclusions

The common cross-cultural themes comprise a framework underpinned by value placed on personhood and dignity, emphasizing that interdependency through relationships is essential to promote a good end of life with dementia. These themes and valuing the importance of relationships as central to connecting the themes could support care planning and further development of a dementia palliative care model.

Trial registration

The Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine Kyoto University (R1924–1).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-022-00982-9.

Health and social care services for people with dementia at home at the end of life: A qualitative study of bereaved informal caregivers' experiences

BACKGROUND

More people are dying at home with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. While informal caregivers are the main providers of care for people with dementia dying at home, they require support from health and social care services. However, little is known about how they experience these services.

AIM

To explore informal caregivers' views and experiences of health and social care services when looking after a person with dementia at home at the end-of-life.

DESIGN

A qualitative interview study. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-nine bereaved informal caregivers who had looked after a person with dementia at home during the last 6 months of life.

RESULTS

Specialist palliative care for people with dementia dying at home is rare and care is mostly managed by General Practitioners and domiciliary care workers. Four overarching themes were identified: Poor continuity of care; Lack of expertise; Limited advance care planning; and Loss of autonomy.

CONCLUSIONS

End-of-life care at home for people with dementia must be proactively planned with an emphasis on advance care planning. Policy makers should recognise the critical role of domiciliary care services in end-of-life care and ensure that they are adequately qualified and trained.

Patterns of unplanned hospital admissions among people with dementia: from diagnosis to the end of life

BACKGROUND

hospitalisations are sentinel events for people with dementia. How patterns of unplanned hospital admissions change among people with dementia after diagnosis is relatively unknown.

OBJECTIVE

to describe patterns of unplanned hospital admissions of people with dementia from diagnosis until death/study end.

METHODS

retrospective cohort study using mental healthcare provider data of people diagnosed with dementia in London, UK (1995-2017), linked to mortality and hospital data. The primary outcome was the rate of unplanned hospital admissions after diagnosis until death/study end. We calculated the cumulative incidence of unplanned hospital admissions. The rates of unplanned hospital admissions and the percentage of time spent as an inpatient were stratified by time from first dementia diagnosis.

RESULTS

for 19,221 people with dementia (61.4% female, mean age at diagnosis 81.0 years (standard deviation, SD 8.5)), the cumulative incidence of unplanned hospital admissions (n = 14,759) was 76.8% (95% CI 76.3%-77.3%). Individuals remained in the study for mean 3.0 (SD 2.6) years, and 12,667 (65.9%) died. Rates and lengths of unplanned hospital admissions remained relatively low and short in the months after the dementia diagnosis, increasing only as people approached the end of life. Percentage of time spent as an inpatient was <3% for people who were alive at the study end but was on average 19.6 and 13.3% for the decedents in the last 6 and 12 months of life, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

the steep rise in hospitalisations before death highlights the need for improved community care and services for people with dementia who are approaching the end of life.

Prognostic value of the Surprise Question for one-year mortality in older patients: a prospective multicenter study in acute geriatric and cardiology units

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prognostic value of the Surprise Question (SQ) in older persons.

METHODS

A multicenter prospective study, including patients aged 75 years or older admitted to acute geriatric (AGU) or cardiology unit (CU). The SQ was answered by the treating physician. Patients or relatives were contacted after 1 year to determine 1-year survival. Logistic regression was used to explore parameters associated with SQ. Summary ROC curves were constructed to obtain the pooled values of sensitivity and specificity based on a bivariate model.

RESULTS

The SQ was positive (death within 1 year is no surprise) in 34.7% AGU and 33.3% CU patients (p = 0.773). Parameters associated with a positive SQ were more severe comorbidity, worse functionality, significant weight loss, refractory symptoms and the request for palliative care by patient or family. One-year mortality was, respectively, 24.9% and 20.2% for patients hospitalized on AGU and CU (p = 0.319). There was no difference in sensitivity or specificity, respectively, 64% and 77% (AUC 0.635) for AGU versus 63% and 76% (AUC 0.758) for CU (p = 0.870). A positive SQ is associated with a significant shorter time until death (HR 5.425 (95% CI 3.332-8.834), p < 0.001) independently from the ward.

CONCLUSION

The Surprise Question is moderately accurate to predict 1-year mortality in older persons hospitalized on acute geriatric and cardiologic units.

Exploring the Motivations for Completing Advance Care Directives: A Qualitative Study of Majority/Minority Israeli People Without Dementia

Background

Completing advance directives has been declared an essential instrument for preserving and respecting the autonomy and preferences for end-of-life care of people living with dementia. However, research deciphering the reasoning behind the decision to complete or not advance directives in the case of dementia remains limited, especially among people pertaining to different majority/minority groups.

Objectives

To explore the motivations of people without dementia in Israel to complete or not to complete advance directives and to compare these motivations among the majority veteran Jewish group, the minority Jewish Former Soviet Union immigrant group, and the minority Arab group.

Methods

This qualitative study used purposive sampling and focus groups with discussions elicited by a vignette. A total of 42 Israeli people without dementia participated in 6 focus groups: two with veteran Jews (n = 14), two with Jewish immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (n = 14), and two with Arabs (n = 14). The analysis followed recommended steps for thematic content analysis.

Results

Four overarching themes were identified: (1) the meaning of dementia-related advance directives, (2) motivations for willingness to complete advance directives, (3) motivations for not being willing to complete advance directives, and (4) ethical dilemmas. Some of the themes were common to all groups, while others were informed by the groups' unique characteristics. Participants displayed a lack of knowledge and misunderstanding about advance directives, and central concepts such as autonomy and competence. Furthermore, stigmatic images of dementia and of the person with the diagnosis were associated to participants' motivations to complete advance directives.

Conclusions

There is need to expand comparative research among culturally and socially similar and dissimilar groups within a country as well as between countries in order to better guide public health efforts to increase the rates of advance directives completion. Special attention should be paid to decreasing stigmatic beliefs and understanding unique cultural values and motivations.

Informal carer experiences of UK dementia services-A systematic review

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Dementia affects an increasing number of people and a person with dementia requires significant levels of care. Dementia care is often delivered by family members. Caring for someone with dementia places significant demand on the carer and support for the carer is often needed. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Research has been conducted into caregivers' experiences of caring for someone with dementia, but a synthesis of findings for studies from the UK is needed to collate the research evidence and provide an account of the common trends within the existing research. This paper adds to existing knowledge by highlighting the key difficulties experienced by carers of a person with dementia in their caring role and their experiences with support services across the existing research evidence. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Improvements to the process of dementia assessment and the process of receiving a dementia diagnosis are needed. Information and support needs to be more accessible for the carer of a person with dementia Cultural differences need to be acknowledged in the support and information offered to carers of a person with dementia. ABSTRACT: Aim To understand the experiences of informal carers' of individuals with dementia in the UK when engaging with services for support in their caring role. Methods Following the PRISMA guidelines, a qualitative systematic literature review was carried out. Six Internet databases were searched. Results were screened, and eligible studies were appraised using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP, 2019) and data synthesized using Evan & Pearson (2001) and Evans (2002). Results The search returned 231 records, 11 were selected for critical appraisal and data synthesis. Four main themes (information for carers, process of diagnosing dementia, difficulties accessing support and cultural differences of experiences of services) were extracted. Discussion Carers experience services as providing inadequate support for the Person with Dementia (PwD) and themselves for support relating to dementia. Difficulties in receiving information and support were experienced from before diagnosis to end-of-life (EoL) care. Additionally, cultural differences were found in carers' experiences. Implications for practice The provision of and access to dementia support should be improved; more information for carers about dementia and dementia services is needed; cultural differences need to be appreciated in the support and information offered.

Usefulness and acceptability of an animation to raise awareness to grief experienced by carers of individuals with dementia

AIM

Many carers of individuals with dementia experience high levels of grief before and after the death of the person with dementia. This study aimed to determine the usefulness, acceptability, and relevance of an animation developed to raise awareness to grief experienced by carers of people with dementia.

METHODS

This research had a cross-sectional survey design. We contacted carers of people with dementia over the phone or email. Participants evaluated the animation through an online or paper-based survey. We used descriptive statistics and analysed qualitative data using thematic analysis. We required a sample of 40 carers to adequately power the study with a target of 75% of carers finding the animation useful, acceptable, and relevant.

RESULTS

31/78 carers approached evaluated the animation. Ninety-four percent of participants found the animation relevant to their situation, meeting our target. However, we fell short of this target for usefulness (68%) and acceptability (73%). The qualitative responses suggested that participants felt the animation could help improve the understanding of grief among carers, family, friends, and healthcare professionals. Carers also shared that the animation would be most useful for carers of newly diagnosed people with dementia.

CONCLUSION

Most carers of people with dementia in this study reported that the animation was useful, acceptable, and relevant. Dissemination of the resource may be useful for the majority of carers, with the caveat that a few carers may find it distressing and need to be referred for further support.

How do person‐centered outcome measures enable shared decision‐making for people with dementia and family carers?—A systematic review

Objectives

To identify published evidence on person‐centered outcome measures (PCOMs) used in dementia care and to explore how PCOMs facilitate shared decision‐making and improve outcomes of care. To build a logic model based on the findings, depicting linkages with PCOM impact mechanisms and care outcomes.

Design

Mixed‐methods systematic review. We searched PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and ASSIA from databases and included studies reporting experiences and/or impact of PCOM use among people with dementia, family carers, and/or practitioners. Groen Van de Ven's model of collaborative deliberation informed the elements of shared decision‐making in dementia care in the abstraction, analysis, and interpretation of data. Data were narratively synthesized to develop the logic model.

Setting

Studies were conducted in long‐term care, mixed settings, emergency department, general primary care, and geriatric clinics.

Participants

A total of 1064 participants were included in the review.

Results

Ten studies were included. PCOMs can facilitate shared decision‐making through “knowing the person,” “identifying problems, priorities for care and treatment and goal setting,” “evaluating decisions”, and “implementation considerations for PCOM use.” Weak evidence on the impact of PCOMs to improve communication between individuals and practitioners, physical function, and activities of daily living.

Conclusions

PCOMs can enable shared decision‐making and impact outcomes through facilitating collaborative working between the person's network of family and practitioners to identify and manage symptoms and concerns. The constructed logic model demonstrates the key mechanisms to discuss priorities for care and treatment, and to evaluate decisions and outcomes. A future area of research is training for family carers to use PCOMs with practitioners.

The needs and well-being of severe asthma and COPD carers: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Caring for people with severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can impair the quality of life (QoL) of the carer. We aimed to describe the QoL and needs of severe asthma and COPD carers.

METHODS

Carers of severe asthma (n = 89) and COPD (n = 48) completed an online cross-sectional survey assessing QoL and carer support needs using the Short Form Health Survey 12v2 (SF-12), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Carers Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) questionnaires.

RESULTS

Carers of people with severe asthma and COPD were similar in age (mean ± SD 57.78 ± 14.09 vs. 56.93 ± 12.91) and gender (65% female vs. 66%); however, they differed in caring duration (proportion caring for >10 years: 65% vs. 33%, p < 0.002). QoL was impaired in both groups, but there were no significant differences between severe asthma and COPD carers in either of the SF-12 component scores. The HADS scores revealed no difference between groups. Compared to severe asthma carers, COPD carers had significantly greater needs for: 'having time for self' (33% vs. 13%, p = 0.006), 'equipment to help care for relative' (33% vs. 13%, p = 0.006), 'practical help in the home' (35% vs. 18%, p = 0.006) and 'getting a break from caring overnight' (21% vs. 6%, p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

QoL is impaired in carers of people with severe asthma to a similar degree of COPD carers and other debilitating diseases like cancer. These novel data highlight the support needs of severe asthma carers and identifies areas where tailored support is needed to reduce their substantial carer burden.

Factors Associated With Family Caregiver Burden of Home-Dwelling Patients With Advanced Dementia

OBJECTIVES

To realize patients' preferences for home death, this study aimed to identify factors associated with family caregiver burden of home-dwelling patients with advanced dementia and examine its relationship with end-of-life care treatment decisions.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Patient-family caregiver dyads enrolled in a home-based palliative care program for patients with advanced dementia, with family caregiver burden assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) on enrolment, were included.

METHODS

Independent variables included sociodemographic data, patients' clinical phase, symptom severity, quality of life, informal paid help availability, and community resources utilized. Dependent variable was continuous ZBI scores and ZBI scores dichotomized into <24 and ≥24 for predicting depression risk. Place of death and interventions received 2 weeks before death were also collected. Data were analyzed using multivariate linear and logistic regression.

RESULTS

From October 2014 to December 2020, a total of 377 family caregivers were assessed with ZBI. Median score was 25 (IQR 15-36), and 54.4% of them were at risk of depression. Younger family caregivers had higher ZBI scores (β = -0.22, 95% CI -0.38, -0.07), with the depression risk doubling for family caregivers aged <60 years (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.33, 3.43). Absence of informal paid help also increased the ZBI scores (β = -9.04, 95% CI -14.86, -3.22) and depression risk (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.03, 6.09). In addition, caregivers' ZBI scores increased with patients' neuropsychiatric symptom severity (β = 0.49, 95% CI 0.08, 0.89), and caregivers of clinically unstable patients had a higher depression risk (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.03, 3.12). Baseline caregiver burden was not associated with treatment decisions made at the end of life.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Younger family caregivers caring for clinically unstable patients with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms experienced greater burden without informal paid help. For end-of-life care at home in advanced dementia to be tenable, relevant national agencies and stakeholders are recommended to work collectively to support family caregivers holistically.

Clinical Care and Unmet Needs of Individuals With Dementia With Lewy Bodies and Caregivers: An Interview Study

BACKGROUND

Patient-centered care requires understanding patient preferences and needs, but research on the clinical care preferences of individuals living with dementia and caregivers is sparse, particularly in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

METHODS

Investigators conducted telephone interviews with individuals living with DLB and caregivers from a Lewy body dementia specialty center. Interviews employed a semistructured questionnaire querying helpful aspects of care and unmet needs. Investigators used a qualitative descriptive approach to analyze transcripts and identify themes.

RESULTS

Twenty individuals with DLB and 25 caregivers participated. Twenty-three of the caregivers were spouses, 2 were daughters. Aspects of clinical care valued by individuals with DLB and caregivers included clinician time, diagnosis, education, symptom management, communication, and caring staff. Unmet needs or challenges included patient/caregiver education, education of nonspecialist clinicians and community care providers, scheduling difficulties, caregiver support, financial concerns, assistance with advance care planning and finding local resources, and effective treatments for DLB symptoms.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

Improving care for individuals with DLB and their families will require a multipronged strategy including education for nonspecialist care providers, increasing specialty care access, improved clinical care services, research to support disease prognosis and treatment decisions, and local and national strategies for enhanced caregiver support.

Development, feasibility, and acceptability of an intervention to improve care for agitation in people living in nursing homes with dementia nearing the end-of-life

OBJECTIVES

To develop a staff training intervention for agitation in people with severe dementia, reaching end-of-life, residing in nursing homes (NHs), test feasibility, acceptability, and whether a trial is warranted.

DESIGN

Feasibility study with pre- and post-intervention data collection, qualitative interviews, and focus groups.

SETTING

Three NHs in South East England with dementia units, diverse in terms of size, ownership status, and location.

PARTICIPANTS

Residents with a dementia diagnosis or scoring ≥2 on the Noticeable Problems Checklist, rated as "severe" on Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, family carers, and staff (healthcare assistants and nurses).

INTERVENTION

Manualized training, delivered by nonclinical psychology graduates focusing on agitation in severe dementia, underpinned by a palliative care framework.

MEASUREMENTS

Main outcomes were feasibility of recruitment, data collection, follow-up, and intervention acceptability. We collected resident, family carer, and staff demographics. Staff provided data on resident's agitation, pain, quality of life, and service receipt. Staff reported their sense of competence in dementia care. Family carers reported on satisfaction with end-of-life care. In qualitative interviews, we explored staff and family carers' views on the intervention.

RESULTS

The target three NHs participated: 28 (49%) residents, 53 (74%) staff, and 11 (85%) family carers who were eligible to participate consented. Eight-four percent of staff attended ≥3 sessions, and we achieved 93% follow-up. We were able to complete quantitative interviews. Staff and family carers reported the intervention and delivery were acceptable and helpful.

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention was feasible and acceptable indicating a larger trial for effectiveness may be warranted.

The Human Rights of Older People With Mental Health Conditions and Psychosocial Disability to a Good Death and Dying Well

The human right to a good death and dying well is as important as the right to life. At stake at the end of life are human rights to dignity, autonomy, self-determination and respect for will and preferences, equitable access to quality health care that is needs-based, and respect for family and relationships. Older people with dementia, those with serious mental illness, and those with intellectual disability are vulnerable to "bad deaths" due to violations of these rights. In this paper we explore why this is so and examine existing and potential solutions. A human rights-approach to end-of-life care and policy for older persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disability is one that is needs-based, encompassing physical and mental health, palliative care, social, and spiritual support services provided in the context of inclusive living. Most importantly, end of life care must be self-determined, and not "one size fits all." An important remedy to existing violations is to strengthen human rights frameworks to cater specifically to older persons' needs with a UN convention on the rights of older persons. Finally, as health professionals we have important contributions to make at the coalface by accepting our responsibilities in the area of death and dying. With the concept of the palliative psychiatrist gaining traction and recognition that death is our business, we add that human rights is also our business.

Longitudinal Trajectories and Correlates of Post-Caregiving Depressive Symptoms in Former Caregivers of Persons With Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Dementia

BACKGROUND

Despite the end of caregiving responsibilities, caregivers' depressive symptoms continue following the death of the care recipient with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD). However, long-term patterns of depressive symptoms among ADRD caregivers following the care recipient's death remain poorly understood.

PURPOSE

To explore longitudinal trajectories and correlates of depressive symptoms in former caregivers of persons with ADRD following the care recipient's death.

METHODS

Using the modification of Cooper's framework presented by Whittemore and Knafl, an integrative review was conducted in 4 stages: problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, and data analysis. The literature search was performed using CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases. Articles were included if they were published in English between January 1994 and March 2021, reported in peer-reviewed sources, and described findings of original research related to factors, correlates, or longitudinal patterns of depressive symptoms in former family caregivers following the death of the care recipient with ADRD.

RESULTS

Longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms were categorized into 3 overarching themes: (1) gradual reduction of depressive symptoms during the first year post-caregiving; (2) failure of depressive symptoms to fully resolve after the first year post-caregiving; and (3) individualized depressive symptom trajectories. Correlates of post-caregiving depressive symptoms were categorized into 3 themes: (1) caregiver personal characteristics; (2) extrinsic factors; and (3) coping resources.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicated that screening for depression and psychosocial support are high priorities during the first year post-caregiving to facilitate early identification of at-risk caregivers and improve mental health outcomes in this population.

Survival in the Three Common Variants of Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Memory Clinic

Knowledge on the natural history of the three main variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is lacking, particularly regarding mortality. Moreover, advanced stages and end of life issues are rarely discussed with caregivers and families at diagnosis, which can cause more psychological distress. We analyzed data from 83 deceased patients with a diagnosis of PPA. We studied survival in patients with a diagnosis of logopenic variant (lvPPA), semantic variant (svPPA), or non-fluent variant (nfvPPA) and examined causes of death. From medical records, we retrospectively collected data for each patient at several time points spanning five years before the first visit to death. When possible, interviews were performed with proxies of patients to complete missing data. Results showed that survival from symptom onset and diagnosis was significantly longer in svPPA than in lvPPA (p = 0.002) and nfvPPA (p < 0.001). No relevant confounders were associated with survival. Mean survival from symptom onset was 7.6 years for lvPPA, 7.1 years for nfvPPA, and 12 years for svPPA. The most common causes of death were natural cardio-pulmonary arrest and pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia represented 23% of deaths in nfvPPA. In conclusion, this pilot study found significant differences in survival between the three variants of PPA with svPPA showing the longest and nfvPPA showing more neurologically-related causes of death.

Differences in Burden Severity in Adult-Child Family Caregivers and Spousal Caregivers of Persons with Dementia

Researchers are continuing to focus on the nature and sources of burden of family caregivers of persons living with dementia. Caregiving stress and burden are assessed and addressed by social workers, including at high-risk times such as hospitalization. This study tested whether adult-child family caregivers experience greater perceived burden than spousal caregivers, accounting for risks of acute stress which can accompany hospitalization for their care recipient, where social workers may be meeting with family caregivers for the first time. Family caregivers (N = 76; n = 42 adult-child; n = 34 spouse) were recruited during care-recipient clinical treatment. The settings of care included an outpatient memory care program and an inpatient geriatric psychiatry service. Results showed that adult-child caregivers reported greater burden as compared with spousal caregivers, but no differences regarding depressive symptoms, perceived stress, or grief. After controlling for demographics and location of care, being an adult-child caregiver remained a predictor of greater burden severity. Being an adult-child family caregiver may place an individual at increased risk for experiencing high burden. These findings suggest socials workers should consider how adult-child caregivers may benefit from strategies to address and reduce burden, beyond those typically offered to spousal caregivers.

Protocol for an observational cohort study identifying factors predicting accurately end of life in dementia with Lewy bodies and promoting quality end-of-life experiences: the PACE-DLB study

INTRODUCTION

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is one of the most common degenerative dementias. Despite the fact that most individuals with DLB die from complications of the disease, little is known regarding what factors predict impending end of life or are associated with a quality end of life.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a multisite longitudinal cohort study. Participants are being recruited from five academic centres providing subspecialty DLB care and volunteers through the Lewy Body Dementia Association (not receiving specialty care). Dyads must be US residents, include individuals with a clinical diagnosis of DLB and at least moderate-to-severe dementia and include the primary caregiver, who must pass a brief cognitive screen. The first dyad was enrolled 25 February 2021; recruitment is ongoing. Dyads will attend study visits every 6 months through the end of life or 3 years. Study visits will occur in-person or virtually. Measures include demographics, DLB characteristics, caregiver considerations, quality of life and satisfaction with end-of-life experiences. For dyads where the individual with DLB dies, the caregiver will complete a final study visit 3 months after the death to assess grief, recovery and quality of the end-of-life experience. Terminal trend models will be employed to identify significant predictors of approaching end of life (death in the next 6 months). Similar models will assess caregiver factors (eg, grief, satisfaction with end-of-life experience) after the death of the individual with DLB. A qualitative descriptive analysis approach will evaluate interview transcripts regarding end-of-life experiences.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by the University of Florida institutional review board (IRB202001438) and is listed on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04829656). Data sharing follows National Institutes of Health policies. Study results will be disseminated via traditional scientific strategies (conferences, publications) and through collaborating with the Lewy Body Dementia Association, National Institute on Aging and other partnerships.

"It's like being on a roller coaster": the burden of caring for people with severe asthma

Introduction

Family carers and significant others play a fundamental role in the well-being of people with severe asthma. This study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by family carers/significant others of people with severe asthma, to understand if there is an unmet need and to explore coping strategies.

Methods

Carers of people with severe asthma were invited to participate in a face-to-face or telephone interview. Semi-structured interviews were conducted until reaching data saturation of themes. The 20 interviews were recorded and transcribed, and analysis of data followed an inductive thematic approach.

Results

We report three overarching emergent themes: 1) “Caring role impacts”, which centred around the negative and positive impacts of caring on carers' well-being; 2) “Unmet needs”, which encapsulated the support needs participants desired and were categorised into unmet information, biopsychosocial needs and carers' involvement in decision-making; and 3) “Coping strategies”, which were central to the range of tools and positive approaches in dealing with caring demands.

Discussion

Caring for someone with severe asthma can be burdensome and may negatively affect the physical and psychosocial health of the carer. Various coping strategies are used to manage the demands of these caring roles. Carers of people with severe asthma expressed a need for informational, biopsychosocial and involvement in care decision-making support. Tailored support services that are sensitive to their needs may improve their quality of life and encourage healthcare providers to value and acknowledge the important contribution that carers make.

Caring for someone with severe asthma can be burdensome, affecting the physical and psychosocial health of the supportive person negatively. Tailored support services may improve their quality of life.https://bit.ly/2KA9PWS

The experience of bereavement on family caregivers of people with dementia in China

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Despite many studies on 'life after care' for family caregivers with dementia in Western societies, little is known about the bereavement experiences of family caregivers in China. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of bereavement on family members of people with dementia in China. It also hopes to inform end-of-life care within communities, providing a theoretical basis for improving the quality of life of bereaved family caregivers.

METHODS

Interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was adapted for this study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit former family caregivers of people with dementia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 bereaved family caregivers were collected. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

FINDINGS

Five themes were identified: recalling the past life, lack of support, uncertainty of the future, social withdrawal and acceptance and release.

CONCLUSION

The experiences of bereavement on family members of people with dementia in China are socially and culturally complex. This article recommends that bereavement should be supported throughout the palliative process of community services and healthcare services. Providing all-round support and education on death and dying can help the family caregivers to pass through grief and help them to maintain their normal life.

'My wife is my doctor at home': A qualitative study exploring the challenges of home-based palliative care in a resource-poor setting

BACKGROUND

Family caregiving is common globally, but when a family member needs palliative and end-of-life care, this requires knowledge and expertise in dealing with symptoms, medication, and treatment side effects. Caring for a family member with advanced prostate cancer in the home presents practical and emotional challenges, especially in resource-poor contexts, where there are increasing palliative cases without adequate palliative care institutions.

AIM

The study explored palliative and end-of-life care experiences of family caregivers and patients living at home in a resource-poor context in Ghana.

DESIGN

This is a qualitative study using thematic analysis of face-to-face interviews at two-time points.

PARTICIPANTS

Men living with advanced prostate cancer (n = 23), family caregivers (n = 23), healthcare professionals (n = 12).

FINDINGS

Men with advanced prostate cancer face complex issues, including lack of access to professional care and a lack of resources for homecare. Family caregivers do not have easy access to professional support; they often have limited knowledge of disease progression. Patients have inadequate access to medication and other practical resources for homecare. Caregivers may be overburdened and perform the role of the patient's 'doctor' at home-assessing patient's symptoms, administering drugs, and providing hands-on care.

CONCLUSION

Home-based care is promoted as an ideal and cost-effective model of care, particularly in Westernised palliative care models. However, in resource-poor contexts, there are significant challenges associated with the implementation of this model. This study revealed the scale of challenges family caregivers, who lack basic training on aspects of caring, face in providing home care unsupported by healthcare professionals.

Supporting good quality, community-based end-of-life care for people living with dementia: the SEED research programme including feasibility RCT

Background

In the UK, most people with dementia die in the community and they often receive poorer end-of-life care than people with cancer.

Objective

The overall aim of this programme was to support professionals to deliver good-quality, community-based care towards, and at, the end of life for people living with dementia and their families.

Design

The Supporting Excellence in End-of-life care in Dementia (SEED) programme comprised six interlinked workstreams. Workstream 1 examined existing guidance and outcome measures using systematic reviews, identified good practice through a national e-survey and explored outcomes of end-of-life care valued by people with dementia and family carers (n = 57) using a Q-sort study. Workstream 2 explored good-quality end-of-life care in dementia from the perspectives of a range of stakeholders using qualitative methods (119 interviews, 12 focus groups and 256 observation hours). Using data from workstreams 1 and 2, workstream 3 used co-design methods with key stakeholders to develop the SEED intervention. Worksteam 4 was a pilot study of the SEED intervention with an embedded process evaluation. Using a cluster design, we assessed the feasibility and acceptability of recruitment and retention, outcome measures and our intervention. Four general practices were recruited in North East England: two were allocated to the intervention and two provided usual care. Patient recruitment was via general practitioner dementia registers. Outcome data were collected at baseline, 4, 8 and 12 months. Workstream 5 involved economic modelling studies that assessed the potential value of the SEED intervention using a contingent valuation survey of the general public (n = 1002). These data informed an economic decision model to explore how the SEED intervention might influence care. Results of the model were presented in terms of the costs and consequences (e.g. hospitalisations) and, using the contingent valuation data, a cost–benefit analysis. Workstream 6 examined commissioning of end-of-life care in dementia through a narrative review of policy and practice literature, combined with indepth interviews with a national sample of service commissioners (n = 20).

Setting

The workstream 1 survey and workstream 2 included services throughout England. The workstream 1 Q-sort study and workstream 4 pilot trial took place in North East England. For workstream 4, four general practices were recruited; two received the intervention and two provided usual care.

Results

Currently, dementia care and end-of-life care are commissioned separately, with commissioners receiving little formal guidance and training. Examples of good practice rely on non-recurrent funding and leadership from an interested clinician. Seven key components are required for good end-of-life care in dementia: timely planning discussions, recognising end of life and providing supportive care, co-ordinating care, effective working with primary care, managing hospitalisation, continuing care after death, and valuing staff and ongoing learning. Using co-design methods and the theory of change, the seven components were operationalised as a primary care-based, dementia nurse specialist intervention, with a care resource kit to help the dementia nurse specialist improve the knowledge of family and professional carers. The SEED intervention proved feasible and acceptable to all stakeholders, and being located in the general practice was considered beneficial. None of the outcome measures was suitable as the primary outcome for a future trial. The contingent valuation showed that the SEED intervention was valued, with a wider package of care valued more than selected features in isolation. The SEED intervention is unlikely to reduce costs, but this may be offset by the value placed on the SEED intervention by the general public.

Limitations

The biggest challenge to the successful delivery and completion of this research programme was translating the ‘theoretical’ complex intervention into practice in an ever-changing policy and service landscape at national and local levels. A major limitation for a future trial is the lack of a valid and relevant primary outcome measure to evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention that influences outcomes for both individuals and systems.

Conclusions

Although the dementia nurse specialist intervention was acceptable, feasible and integrated well with existing care, it is unlikely to reduce costs of care; however, it was highly valued by all stakeholders (professionals, people with dementia and their families) and has the potential to influence outcomes at both an individual and a systems level.

Future work

There is no plan to progress to a full randomised controlled trial of the SEED intervention in its current form. In view of new National Institute for Health and Care Excellence dementia guidance, which now recommends a care co-ordinator for all people with dementia, the feasibility of providing the SEED intervention throughout the illness trajectory should be explored. Appropriate outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of such a complex intervention are needed urgently.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN21390601.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full in Programme Grants for Applied Research, Vol. 8, No. 8. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Caregiver-Reported Barriers to Quality End-of-Life Care in Dementia With Lewy Bodies: A Qualitative Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated barriers to quality end-of-life (EOL) care in the context of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), one of the most common degenerative dementias in the United States.

METHODS

The study consisted of telephone interviews with caregivers and family members of individuals who died with DLB in the last 5 years. Interviews used a semi-structured questionnaire. Investigators employed a qualitative descriptive approach to analyze interview transcripts and identify common barriers to quality EOL care.

RESULTS

Thirty participants completed interviews. Reported barriers to quality EOL experiences in DLB pertained to the DLB diagnosis itself and factors relating to the US health-care system, facilities, hospice, and health-care providers (physicians and staff). Commonly reported barriers included lack of recognition and knowledge of DLB, lack of education regarding what to expect, poor coordination of care and communication across health-care teams and circumstances, and difficulty accessing health-care resources including skilled nursing facility placement and hospice.

CONCLUSION

Many identified themes were consistent with published barriers to quality EOL care in dementia. However, DLB-specific EOL considerations included diagnostic challenges, lack of knowledge regarding DLB and resultant prescribing errors, difficulty accessing resources due to behavioral changes in DLB, and waiting to meet Medicare dementia hospice guidelines. Improving EOL experiences in DLB will require a multifaceted approach, starting with improving DLB recognition and provider knowledge. More research is needed to improve recognition of EOL in DLB and factors that drive quality EOL experiences.

Empowering Better End-of-Life Dementia Care (EMBED-Care): A mixed methods protocol to achieve integrated person-centred care across settings

OBJECTIVES

Globally, the number of people with dementia who have palliative care needs will increase fourfold over the next 40 years. The Empowering Better End-of-Life Dementia Care (EMBED-Care) Programme aims to deliver a step change in care through a large sequential study, spanning multiple work streams.

METHODS

We will use mixed methods across settings where people with dementia live and die: their own homes, care homes, and hospitals. Beginning with policy syntheses and reviews of interventions, we will develop a conceptual framework and underpinning theory of change. We will use linked data sets to explore current service use, care transitions, and inequalities and predict future need for end-of-life dementia care. Longitudinal cohort studies of people with dementia (including young onset and prion dementias) and their carers will describe care transitions, quality of life, symptoms, formal and informal care provision, and costs. Data will be synthesised, underpinned by the Knowledge-to-Action Implementation Framework, to design a novel complex intervention to support assessment, decision making, and communication between patients, carers, and inter-professional teams. This will be feasibility and pilot tested in UK settings. Patient and public involvement and engagement, innovative work with artists, policymakers, and third sector organisations are embedded to drive impact. We will build research capacity and develop an international network for excellence in dementia palliative care.

CONCLUSIONS

EMBED-Care will help us understand current and future need, develop novel cost-effective care innovations, build research capacity, and promote international collaborations in research and practice to ensure people live and die well with dementia.

Comfort and Satisfaction With Care of Home-Dwelling Dementia Patients at the End of Life

CONTEXT

Despite the preference to pass away at home, many dementia patients die in institutions, resulting in a paucity of studies examining end-of-life care outcomes in the home setting.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify modifiable factors associated with the comfort of dementia patients dying at home and families' satisfaction with care.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study conducted from October 2014 to April 2019 in Singapore. Dementia patients at Stage 7 on the Functional Assessment Staging Scale, with albumin <35 g/L, enteral feeding, or pneumonia, were recruited from a palliative homecare program. Independent variables included demographics, medical information, and care preferences. The Comfort Assessment in Dying with Dementia scale assessed dying patients' comfort, whereas the Satisfaction with Care at the End-of-Life in Dementia scale evaluated family caregivers' satisfaction two months after bereavement. Gamma regression identified factors independently associated with comfort and satisfaction.

RESULTS

The median age of 202 deceased patients whose comfort was assessed was 88 years. Anti-cholinergic prescription (60.4% of patients) [β (95% CI) = 1.823 (0.660-2.986), P = 0.002] was positively associated with comfort, whereas opioid prescription (89.6%) [β (95% CI) = -2.179 (-4.107 to -0.251), P = 0.027] and >1 antibiotic courses used in the last two weeks of life (77.2%) [β (95% CI) = -1.968 (-3.196 to -0.740), P = 0.002] were negatively associated. Independent factors associated with families' satisfaction with care were comfort [β (95% CI) = 0.149 (0.012-0.286), P = 0.033] and honoring of medical intervention preferences (96.0%) [β (95% CI) = 3.969 (1.485-6.453), P = 0.002].

CONCLUSION

Achieving comfort and satisfaction with care for dementia patients dying at home involves an interplay of modifiable factors. Honoring medical intervention preferences, such as those with palliative intent associated with patients' comfort, determined families' satisfaction with care.

Healthcare utilization and monetary costs associated with agitation in UK care home residents with advanced dementia: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Nearly half of care home residents with advanced dementia have clinically significant agitation. Little is known about costs associated with these symptoms toward the end of life. We calculated monetary costs associated with agitation from UK National Health Service, personal social services, and societal perspectives.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Thirteen nursing homes in London and the southeast of England.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventy-nine people with advanced dementia (Functional Assessment Staging Tool grade 6e and above) residing in nursing homes, and thirty-five of their informal carers.

MEASUREMENTS

Data collected at study entry and monthly for up to 9 months, extrapolated for expression per annum. Agitation was assessed using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). Health and social care costs of residing in care homes, and costs of contacts with health and social care services were calculated from national unit costs; for a societal perspective, costs of providing informal care were estimated using the resource utilization in dementia (RUD)-Lite scale.

RESULTS

After adjustment, health and social care costs, and costs of providing informal care varied significantly by level of agitation as death approached, from £23,000 over a 1-year period with no agitation symptoms (CMAI agitation score 0-10) to £45,000 at the most severe level (CMAI agitation score >100). On average, agitation accounted for 30% of health and social care costs. Informal care costs were substantial, constituting 29% of total costs.

CONCLUSIONS

With the increasing prevalence of dementia, costs of care will impact on healthcare and social services systems, as well as informal carers. Agitation is a key driver of these costs in people with advanced dementia presenting complex challenges for symptom management, service planners, and providers.

Palliative Care in Advanced Dementia

Dementia syndrome is common and expected to increase significantly among older people and characterized by the loss of cognitive, psychological and physical functions. Palliative care is applicable for people with dementia, however they are less likely to have access to palliative care. This narrative review summarizes specifics of palliative care in advanced dementia. Most people with advanced dementia live and die in institutional care and they suffer a range of burdensome symptoms and complications. Shortly before dying people with advanced dementia suffer symptoms as pain, eating problems, breathlessness, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and complications as respiratory or urinary infections and frequently experience burdensome transitions. Pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions may reduce symptom burden. Sensitive observation and appropriate assessment tools enable health professionals to assess symptoms and needs and to evaluate interventions. Due to lack of decisional capacity, proxy decision making is often necessary. Advanced care planning is an opportunity establishing values and preferences and is associated with comfort and decrease of burdensome interventions. Family carers are important for people with advanced dementia they also experience distress and are in need for support. Recommendations refer to early integration of palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, symptom assessment and management, advanced care planning, person-centered care, continuity of care, and collaboration of health care providers.

What motivates informal caregivers of people with dementia (PWD): a qualitative study

Background

The burden of caring for People with Dementia (PWD) is heavy; identifying incentives that motivate them in providing care is essential in facilitating and optimizing care. This study aims to explore and describe these motivating factors.

Methods

We conducted this qualitative study between January 2016 and January 2017 in Isfahan, Iran. Data were extracted through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 19 caregivers of PWD. These data were then examined through thematic content analysis.

Results

We identified four categories of psychological motives based on the caregivers’ feedback and experience. These include 1) Moral-based motives, 2) Religious, and spiritual motives; 3) Financial motives, and 4) Wicked motives.

Conclusions

Our results revealed several aspects of caregivers’ motives. They include moral, religious, and spiritual aspects; sharing housing accommodations, and the likelihood of inheriting a portion of the patient’s assets based on unspoken rules and informal arrangements in the family, and wicked and immoral aspects. These findings can inform future efforts in enhancing the experiences of caregivers of PWD, and subsequently, the quality of care these patients receive. It further suggests that family members, members of a religious and spiritual organization, as well as social media, could play important roles in setting the stage.

Context, mechanisms and outcomes in end-of-life care for people with advanced dementia: family carers perspective

Background

Keeping people living with advanced dementia in their usual place of residence is becoming a key governmental goal but to achieve this, family carers and health care professionals must negotiate how to provide optimal care. Previously, we reported a realist analysis of the health care professional perspective. Here, we report on family carer perspectives. We aimed to understand the similarities and differences between the two perspectives, gain insights into how the interdependent roles of family carers and HCPs can be optimised, and make recommendations for policy and practice.

Method

Qualitative study using a realist approach in which we used the criteria from guidance on optimal palliative care in advanced dementia to examine key contexts, mechanisms and outcomes highlighted by family carers.

Results

The themes and views of family caregivers resonate with those of health care professionals. Their overlapping anxieties related to business-driven care homes, uncertainty of families when making EOL decisions and the importance of symptom management referring to contexts, mechanisms and outcomes, respectively. Contexts specific to family carers were ad hoc information about services, dementia progression and access to funding. Not all family carers identified dementia as terminal, but many recognised the importance of continuity of care and knowing the wishes of the person with dementia. New mechanisms included specific resources for improving EOL care and barriers to discussing and planning for future care. Family carers identified the importance of comfort, being present, the meeting of basic care needs and feeling the right decisions have been made as good outcomes of care.

Conclusions

Family carers and health care professionals share similar concerns about the challenges to good EOL dementia care. Better understanding of the effects of dementia at the advanced stages would improve confidence in EOL care and reduce uncertainty in decision making for family carers and health care professionals.

Functional Status of Older Adults with Dementia at the End of Life: Is there Still Anything to do?

Aims:

There is a lack of data on physical functional status near death of patients with different types of dementia that can contribute to decisions about what kind of care is needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the course of functional status along with the documented reasons for death in participants with dementia who had regularly been followed at a geriatric outpatient unit.

Setting and Design:

A retrospective observational cohort study was done using the database of a geriatric outpatient clinic.

Subjects and Methods:

Sociodemographic and medical records of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia, mixed dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)/Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) who had received routine care in a geriatrics outpatient setting for a minimum of 12 months before death were analyzed. Scores for activities of daily living and documented probable causes of death were recorded.

Results:

Of the 258 participants, 111 (42 female and 69 male) were included in this study. AD was the leading cause of dementia (51.8%). The median duration of survival with dementia was 4 years. The leading causes of death were cardiovascular disease (CVD) (27.0%) and dementia (27.0%) followed by infections (21.6%) and stroke (10.8%). Disability was the highest in patients with DLB/PDD.

Conclusions:

This study found relatively shorter survival after the diagnosis of dementia when compared to other populations. CVD still appeared as a major cause of that in this particular disease. Most debilitating type of dementia was DLB/PDD.

The role of the memory service in helping carers to prepare for end of life: A mixed methods study

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the study is to explore current practice and the role taken by UK memory services in helping carers of people with dementia prepare for the end of life.

METHODS

We used mixed methods including a survey (48 responses/51% response rate) and semistructured interviews (n = 12) with clinicians working in UK memory services accredited by the Memory Services National Accreditation Programme. We used descriptive statistics to report survey findings and thematically analysed interview and survey qualitative data.

RESULTS

Surveys: services routinely discussed with carers the progressive nature of dementia (89%), legal arrangements (health: 72%; finances: 74%), advance care planning (63%), and implications of loss of capacity (61%). Fewer services routinely discussed the terminal nature of dementia (41%) and meaning of death (11%) with carers. Most (89%) agreed that these conversations were in line with their role. Interview findings corresponded with survey findings. Themes included diagnosis considered too early to discuss end of life, discussions being inconsistent with a "living well" approach, people with dementia being resistant to conversations, and discussions of spirituality crossing professional boundaries. Services' capacity for follow-up with carers impacted on ability to broach these topics.

CONCLUSIONS

More in-depth and distressing topics such as end of life and advance care planning require longer follow-up to establish relationships to broach difficult topics. Variability in follow-up practices between services created inequity in the extent to which memory services could address these topics. More research is required to investigate the best method for broaching these topics with carers and the person with mild dementia within different health care contexts.

What Does Death Preparedness Mean for Family Caregivers of Persons With Dementia?

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to clarify the concept of death preparedness for family caregivers in dementia. Conceptualization was required to support the assessment, promotion, and operationalization (ie, measurement) of death preparedness through palliative care interventions such as advance care planning.

Methods:

Rodgers evolutionary method of concept analysis was selected to guide this study because of the dynamic nature of death preparedness influenced by context, setting, and time. A comprehensive literature search was conducted. Authors performed constant comparative analysis to identify and interpret surrogate/related concepts, attributes, antecedents, and consequences of death preparedness.

Results:

Most importantly attributes included (1) knowing and recognizing the symptoms of decline in dementia and what dying looks like; (2) understanding emotions and grief responses; (3) accessing and appraising supports needed to manage and care for dying; (4) organizing affairs and completing tasks in advance; (5) accepting that losses are inevitable and imminent; (6) reflecting on caregiving and finding meaning, “a silver-lining”; and (7) closing, reconciling, and renewing relationship bonds and completing the family member’s life.

Discussion:

This study contributed a full definition of death preparedness in dementia. Findings aligned with/expanded upon Hebert et al Theoretical Framework of Preparedness for End-of-Life. The use of problem- and emotion-based coping strategies by caregivers with support from health-care providers to promote feelings of death preparedness (including self-efficacy and control) and minimize uncertainty was the implication of this study. Development of a holistic preparedness instrument is underway.

Meaningful connections in dementia end of life care in long term care homes

BACKGROUND

Most persons with dementia die in long term care (LTC) homes, where palliative approaches are appropriate. However, palliative approaches have not been widely implemented and there is limited understanding of staff and family experiences of dying and bereavement in this context.

METHOD

This descriptive qualitative study explored family and staff experiences of end of life and end of life care for persons with dementia in LTC homes. Eighteen focus groups were conducted with 77 staff members and 19 relatives of persons with dementia at four LTC homes in four Canadian provinces.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged: knowing the resident, the understanding that they are all human beings, and the long slow decline and death of residents with dementia.

DISCUSSION

Intimate knowledge of the person with dementia, obtained through longstanding relationships, was foundational for person-centred end of life care. Health care aides need to be included in end of life care planning to take advantage of their knowledge of residents with dementia. There were unmet bereavement support needs among staff, particularly health care aides. Persons with dementia were affected by death around them and existing rituals for marking deaths in LTC homes may not fit their needs. Staff were uncomfortable answering relatives' questions about end of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Longstanding intimate relationships enhanced end of life care but left health care aides with unmet bereavement support needs. Staff in LTC homes should be supported to answer questions about the trajectory of decline of dementia and death. Further research about residents' experiences of deaths of other residents is needed.

Systematic Review for the Quality of End-of-Life Care for Patients With Dementia in the Hospital Setting

Background:

Patients with dementia may receive suboptimal end-of-life care in hospital settings reflecting broader debate around the palliative status of dementia syndromes.

Objectives:

To synthesize literature describing the quality of end-of-life care for patients with dementia dying in hospital.

Methods:

An integrative review assessed the quality of 26 articles concerning medical, nursing, and psychosocial care of patients with dementia dying in hospital settings.

Results:

Literature reflects a growing awareness of the need to consider a palliative approach to end-of-life care for patients with dementia in hospital. Patients with dementia are less likely to receive aggressive care at the end of life, but provision of palliative care interventions is inconsistent. Health-care professionals highlighted the need for greater education around identification and management of problematic symptoms at the end of life. Engagement of family caregivers is essential in optimizing end-of-life care, and further research is required to ascertain their experiences around decision-making.

Conclusion:

Although patients with dementia appear to receive less aggressive treatment at the end of life, the provision of palliative care and symptom management may be inadequate.

The facilitators and challenges of dying at home with dementia: A narrative synthesis

BACKGROUND:

It is reported that, given the right support, most people would prefer to die at home, yet a very small minority of people with dementia do so. At present, knowledge gaps remain on how best to support end-of-life care at home for people with dementia.

AIM:

To identify and understand the challenges and facilitators of providing end-of-life care at home for people with dementia.

DESIGN:

Narrative synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data.

DATA SOURCES:

The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A systematic literature search was conducted across six electronic databases (AMED, BNI, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO) and reference lists of key journals were searched up to July 2017.

RESULTS:

Searches returned 1949 unique titles, of which seven studies met all the eligibility criteria (four quantitative and three qualitative). Six key themes were identified – four facilitators and two challenges. Facilitators included ‘support from health care professionals’, ‘informal caregiver resilience and extended social networks’, ‘medications and symptom management’ and ‘appropriate equipment and home adaptations’. Challenges included ‘issues with professional services’ and ‘worsening of physical or mental health’.

CONCLUSION:

People with dementia may not always require specialist palliative care at the end of life. Further research is required to overcome the methodological shortcomings of previous studies and establish how community development approaches to palliative care, such as compassionate communities, can support families to allow a greater number of people with dementia to die at home.