4.3 Palliative Care Protocols
Collaboration between psychiatry, palliative care, geriatric medicine, or other specialties may help address the needs of patients with advanced dementia and their families. Complex interventions for palliative care are required.
Palliative care has been shown to improve the care of dementia patients, according to research. However, there is little proof of palliative care therapies’ efficacy in treating severe dementia.
To improve the chances, some practice guidelines need to be followed:
- Improving communication with patients and their families
- Managing symptoms, distress, and functional status (such as pain, dyspnea, exhaustion, sleep disturbance, mood, nausea, or constipation)
- Providing patient education regarding their condition and prognosis
- Clarifying the therapeutic objectives
- Assisting with medical judgment
- Directing a multidisciplinary team of palliative care experts, including an oncologist doctor, a social worker, a dietitian, a psychologist or psychiatrist, and a spiritual care practitioner
- Making recommendations to other healthcare professionals as required.