Palliative care for people with dementia living at home: A systematic review of interventions

Palliative Care in Early Dementia: A Scoping Review

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.

The impact of COVID-19 on deaths from dementia and Alzheimer's disease in Chile: an analysis of panel data for 16 regions, 2017-2022

Background

Although several studies have documented the detrimental impacts of global COVID-19 containment measures on individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, a comprehensive analysis of mortality rates for these conditions within the Chilean population is notably lacking. This study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates among individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's disease in Chile.

Methods

A retrospective longitudinal cross-sectional study was conducted, considering mortality data for specific mental health conditions during the pre-pandemic and pandemic contexts of COVID-19 in Chile. Quantile regression techniques were employed to analyze the existence of differences between the two periods, while non-observable heterogeneity models for panel data methods were used to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 mortality on crude mortality rates.

Findings

Statistically significant differences were observed in the number of deaths from dementia and Alzheimer's disease between the pre-pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic periods. Specifically, crude mortality rates decreased by 10% (-0.10 [95% CI: -0.16, -0.05]) during the pandemic period. Furthermore, the number of deaths from COVID-19 during the pandemic period has a very weak incidence of deaths from mental health conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's. Specifically, a unit percentage increase in confirmed cases from COVID-19 would result in a 7% (-0.07 [95% CI: -0.13, -0.001]) decrease in the number of deaths from dementia and Alzheimer's. These findings are supported by the application of panel regression with one-way random effects models.

Interpretation

The study findings indicate a reduction in mortality rates attributed to dementia and Alzheimer's disease during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. This decline could be attributed to the potential underreporting of mental illness as the cause of death during the pandemic period. Several studies have highlighted that approximately 30% of death certificates fail to document the presence of a dementia syndrome. Moreover, the cause of death recorded for individuals with mental health conditions may be influenced by the physician's familiarity with the patient or reflect the prevailing approach to managing end-stage dementia patients.

Funding

This work received no funding.

Good death for people living with dementia: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Ensuring a good death is one of the primary objectives of palliative care and end-of-life care. There is insufficient evidence regarding what defines a good death for people living with dementia. Obtaining an understanding of what constitutes a good death could help improve dementia care. This study aimed to explore how multiple stakeholders perceive a good death for people living with dementia.

METHODS

This qualitative study was carried out across six prefectures in Japan. Enrollment of participants took place within dementia outpatient clinics, hospitals, daycare centers, and community centers. A total of thirty-three in-depth interviews with people living with dementia, physicians, and nurses were conducted. Six focus group discussions were performed with family caregivers and care workers. Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were prepared, and inductive content analysis was used to examine the data.

FINDINGS

Regarding the perception of a good death, the following themes were derived: (1) painless death; (2) dying in a preferred environment; (3) family's coping with loss; (4) maintaining regular life; (5) living with respect; and (6) preparation for death. All these themes are interrelated. Participants viewed a good death as a process rather than a single event.

CONCLUSION

This study identifies crucial components of a good death for people living with dementia. The findings could be used to improve dementia care.

Home-based care for people living with dementia at the end of life: the perspective of experts

BACKGROUND

In the last phase of their lives, people living with dementia often indicate restlessness, anxiety or pain. Further, their care is considered inadequate, as they are, for example, sometimes overtreated for curative care or undertreated for pain management. These patients also face multiple barriers in accessing palliative care. This qualitative study explores the perception of experts about how people living with dementia in Germany are cared for at home toward the end of their lives.

METHODS

A total of 12 experts involved in outpatient/palliative care were recruited to constitute a purposive, heterogeneous sample. Interviews, which were structured using an interview guide, were conducted with physicians, nurses, representatives of health insurance funds, welfare associations, municipal counselling centres, scientists and coordinators of outpatient palliative care and voluntary work; the interviews were transcribed and analysed via thematic content analysis, based on Kuckartz's method.

RESULTS

The analysis of the results led to the establishment of four main categories that focused on formal care arrangements, the roles of relatives in care arrangements, the specifics of dementia, and restrictions on access to palliative care.

CONCLUSIONS

Suitable end-of-life care for people living with dementia and support for their relatives require resources and the conceptualisation of specific care arrangements to help minimise potential barriers that prevent access to palliative care.

Our dementia challenge: arise palliative care

While many of the maladies of the 20th century are steadily coming under control, the march of neurodegenerative disorders continues largely unchecked. Dementias are an exemplar of such disorders; their incidence and prevalence continue to rise, in large part due to a steadily ageing population worldwide. They represent a group of chronic, progressive and, ultimately, fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Dementia has remained therapeutically recalcitrant. It is not a single disease, and because of that, we cannot expect a single panacea. While primary prevention rightly gains prominence, those with established disease currently require a shift in focus from curative intent towards improved quality of life. Enter palliative care. The sheer number and complexity of needs of patients with dementia, from the physical to the psychosocial and spiritual, necessitates the engagement of a wide range of medical disciplines, nursing and allied health professionals. One of those disciplines, as highlighted in the recent Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, is palliative care. This paper shall expand upon that role in the overall context of care for those with dementia.

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.

Guidance for family about comfort care in dementia: a comparison of an educational booklet adopted in six jurisdictions over a 15 year timespan

Background

To support family caregivers of people with dementia in end-of-life decision making, a family booklet on comfort care has been adapted and adopted by several European jurisdictions since the original publication in Canada in 2005.

Methods

We analyzed and compared the adaptations to the family booklets used in Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and Ireland that were made up to 2021. Qualitative content analysis was used to create a typology of changes to the original booklet. Interviews with the teams that adapted the booklets contributed to methodological triangulation. Further, using an established framework, we assessed whether the contents of the booklets addressed all domains relevant to optimal palliative dementia care.

Results

The booklets differed in the types of treatment addressed, in particular tube feeding, euthanasia, and spiritual care. There was also variability in the extent to which medical details were provided, an emphasis on previously expressed wishes in medical decision making, addressing of treatment dilemmas at the end of life, the tone of the messages (indirect or explicit) and the discussion of prognosis (as more or less positive), and the involvement of various healthcare professionals and family caregivers in care. All booklets addressed all domains of palliative dementia care.

Conclusions

We identified core elements in providing information on end-of-life care to family caregivers of people with dementia as related to optimal palliative care in dementia. Additionally, local adaptations and updates are required to account for socio-cultural, clinical, and legal differences which may also change over time. These results may inform development of educational and advance care planning materials for different contexts.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-022-00962-z.

Inpatients With Dementia Referred for Palliative Care Consultation: A Multicenter Analysis

Background and Objectives:

Specialty palliative care (PC) may benefit patients with dementia by aligning treatment with goals and relieving symptoms. We aimed to compare demographics and processes and outcomes of PC for inpatients with dementia to those with systemic illnesses or cancer.

Methods:

This multicenter cohort study included standardized data for hospitalized patients with a primary diagnosis of dementia, systemic illnesses (cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal disease) or cancer among the 98 PC teams submitting data to the Palliative Care Quality Network from 2013-2019.

Results:

Out of 155,356 patients, 4.5% (n= 6,925) had a primary diagnosis of dementia, 32.5% (n=50,501) systemic illness, and 29.2% (n=45,386) cancer. Patients with dementia were older (mean 85.5 years, 95%CI 85.3-85.6) than those with systemic illnesses (mean 73.2, 95%CI 73.0-73.3) or cancer (mean 66.6, 95%CI 66.4-66.7; p<0.0001). Patients with dementia were more likely to receive a PC consult within 24 hours of admission (52.3% vs. systemic illnesses 37.4%; cancer 45.3%; p<0.0001), more likely to be bed-bound (vs. systemic illnesses OR 2.23, 95%CI 2.09-2.39, p<0.0001; vs. cancer OR 3.45, 95%CI 3.21-3.72, p<0.0001) and more likely to be discharged alive (vs. systemic illnesses OR 2.22, 95%CI 2.03-2.43, p<0.0001; vs. cancer OR 1.51, 95%CI 1.36-1.67, p<0.0001). Advance care planning / Goals of care (GOC) was the primary reason for consultation for all groups. Few patients overall had advance directives or Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLSTs) prior to consultation. At the time of referral and at discharge, patients with dementia were more likely to have a code status of DNR/DNI (62.6% and 81.0% vs. 38.7 and 64.2% for patients with systemic illnesses, and 33.4% and 60.5% for patients with cancer; p<0.0001). Among the minority of patients with dementia that could self-report, moderate-to-severe symptoms were uncommon (pain 6.4%, anxiety 5.8%, nausea 0.4%, dyspnea 3.5%).

Discussion:

Inpatients with a primary diagnosis of dementia receiving PC consultation were older and more functionally impaired than those with other illnesses. They were more likely to have a code status of DNR/DNI at discharge. Few reported distressing symptoms. These results highlight the need for routine clarification of GOC for patients with dementia.

A scoping review of the evidence for community-based dementia palliative care services and their related service activities

Background

Palliative care is identified internationally as a priority for efficacious dementia care. Research into “effective models” of palliative care for people with dementia has been recommended by several European countries. To build an effective service-delivery model we must gain an understanding of existing models used in similar settings. The study aim is to identify core components of extant models of palliative care for people with dementia, and their families, who are living at home in the community.

Methods

A scoping review was employed. The search strategy was devised to identify all peer-reviewed research papers relating to the above aim. This process was iterative, and the search strategy was refined as evidence emerged and was reviewed. All types of study designs and both quantitative and qualitative studies of non-pharmacological interventions were considered for inclusion.

Results

The search identified 2,754 unique citations, of which 18 papers were deemed eligible for inclusion. Although a palliative care approach is recommended from early in the disease process, most evidence involves end-of-life care or advanced dementia and pertains to residential care. The majority of the research reviewed focused on the effects of advance care planning, and end-of-life care; specialist palliative care input, and/or generalist palliative care provided by dementia services to enable people to remain at home and to reduce costs of care. Community staff training in palliative care appeared to improve engagement with Specialist Palliative Care teams. Integration of dementia and palliative care services was found to improve care received for people with dementia and their carers.

Conclusions

While the evidence for integration of dementia and palliative care services is promising, further high-quality research is necessary particularly to identify the key components of palliative care for people living with dementia. This is imperative to enable people with dementia to inform their own care, to stay living at home for as long as possible, and, where appropriate, to die at home.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-022-00922-7.

Potential determinants of unfavourable healthcare utilisation trajectories during the last year of life of people with incident Alzheimer Disease or Related Syndromes: a nationwide cohort study using administrative data

BACKGROUND

people approaching the end-of-life frequently face inappropriate care. With Alzheimer Disease or Related Syndromes (ADRS), end-of-life is characterised by progressive decline, but this period remains difficult to identify. This leads to a lack of anticipation and sometimes with unfavourable healthcare utilisation trajectories (HUTs).

OBJECTIVE

to quantify unfavourable HUTs during the last year of life and identify their potential determinants in both community and nursing-home settings.

DESIGN

nationwide cohort study using administrative database.

SETTING

French community and nursing-home residents.

SUBJECTS

incident ADRS people identified in 2012, who died up to 31 December 2017.

METHODS

we used multidimensional clustering to identify 15 clusters of HUTs, using 11 longitudinal healthcare dimensions during the last year of life. Clusters were qualitatively assessed by pluri-disciplinary experts as favourable or unfavourable HUTs. Individual and contextual potential determinants of unfavourable HUTs were studied by setting using logistic random-effect regression models.

RESULTS

62,243 individuals died before 31 December 2017; 46.8% faced unfavourable end-of-life HUTs: 55.2% in the community and 31.8% in nursing-homes. Individual potential determinants were identified: younger age, male gender, ADRS identification through hospitalisation, shorter survival, life-limiting comorbidities, psychiatric disorders, acute hospitalisations and polypharmacy. In the community, deprivation and autonomy were identified as potential determinants. Contextual potential determinants raised mostly in the community, such as low nurse or physiotherapist accessibilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly half of people with ADRS faced unfavourable HUTs during their last year of life. Individual potential determinants should help anticipate advance care planning and palliative care needs assessment. Contextual potential determinants suggest geographical disparities and health inequalities.

Contemporary occupational priorities at the end of life mapped against Model of Human Occupation constructs: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

People with end-of-life care needs are seen in an increasingly diverse range of health and community settings. Opportunity for continued occupational participation is highly valued by people at the end of life. This scoping review sought to identify the priorities and preferences for participation at the end of life and to map findings using the model of human occupation.

METHODS

A search strategy informed by the research question was developed in collaboration with a research librarian. Data sources used were Ovid Medline(R), CINAHL, Ovid Emcare, Scopus, Web of Science and PsychInfo. Studies that focused on clinician perspectives, clinical care, grief and loss, did not clearly identify end-stage diseases, <18 years and written in languages other than English were excluded.

FINDINGS

Forty-four studies were included with a total of 1,070 study participants. Inductively developed themes were mapped against the model of human occupation constructs of volition (personal causation, values, interests), habituation (habits of occupational performance and routine), performance capacity and the lived body within the physical, social and occupational environment. The majority of findings sat within the construct of volition, particularly around sense of personal capacity, self-efficacy and values. At the end of life, people prioritise ongoing engagement in valued occupations even if participation is effortful. As disease progresses, opportunity to exert influence and control over this participation and engagement increases in importance. Personal causation plays an important role in the experience of occupational participation at this time.

CONCLUSION

This review provides important insights into the occupational priorities of people at the end of life and the importance of supporting agency and volition at this time. The model of human occupation and its client-centred focus offer a framework for a more robust examination of ways to enhance volitional capacity and enable occupational participation for people at the end of life.

Impact of home healthcare on end-of-life outcomes for people with dementia: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Home healthcare (HHC) comprises clinical services provided by medical professionals for people living at home with various levels of care needs and health conditions. HHC may reduce care transitions from home to acute hospitals, but its long-term impact on homebound people living with dementia (PLWD) towards end-of-life remains unclear. We aim to describe the impact of HHC on acute healthcare utilization and end-of-life outcomes in PLWD.

METHODS

Design: Systematic review of quantitative and qualitative original studies which examine the association between HHC and targeted outcomes.

INTERVENTIONS

HHC.

PARTICIPANTS

At least 80% of study participants had dementia and lived at home.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcome was acute healthcare utilization in the last year of life. Secondary outcomes included hospice palliative care, advance care planning, continuity of care, and place of death. We briefly reviewed selected national policy to provide contextual information regarding these outcomes.

RESULTS

From 6831 articles initially identified, we included five studies comprising data on 4493 participants from USA, Japan, and Italy. No included studies received a "high" quality rating. We synthesised core properties related to HHC at three implementational levels. Micro-level: HHC may be associated with a lower risk of acute healthcare utilization in the early period (e.g., last 90 days before death) and a higher risk in the late period (e.g. last 15 days) of the disease trajectory toward end-of-life in PLWD. HHC may increase palliative care referrals. Advance care planning was an important factor influencing end-of-life outcomes. Meso-level: challenges for HHC providers in medical decision-making and initiating palliative care for PLWD at the end-of-life may require further training and external support. Coordination between HHC and social care is highlighted but not well examined. Macro-level: reforms of national policy or financial schemes are found in some countries but the effects are not clearly understood.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the dearth of dementia-specific research regarding the impact of HHC on end-of-life outcomes. Effects of advance care planning during HHC, the integration between health and social care, and coordination between primary HHC and specialist geriatric/ palliative care services require further investigation.

Delivery models of neuropalliative care

Drawing its beginnings from end-of-life care, palliative care has developed into a specialized interdisciplinary effort aiming to alleviate distress in all its form, and spanning the whole serious illness trajectory. With this evolution came the inevitable expansion to different sites and modes of care delivery. This section discusses the various models of bringing palliative care to patients with neurologic illness. It begins by distinguishing primary from specialist palliative care, then examines various models of inpatient and outpatient care. Hospital-based models include consultation service and dedicated inpatient units, while outpatient care mainly consists of palliative care specialists embedded in disease-specific clinics. Home-based palliative care and services provided through telemedicine are discussed. Hospice, a model of care often associated with end-of-life palliative care is detailed, together with suggestions on when to consider transitioning to hospice care. It is worth noting that there is not a single best model of palliative care delivery for persons living with neurologic illness. The models discussed in this chapter are complementary not competing and should be adopted by clinicians to fit the needs of patients and caregivers, the resources available in the healthcare system, and based on where patients are in the spectrum of their illness.

Palliative Care Intervention Trials for Adults Living With Progressive Central Nervous System Diseases and Their Caregivers: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Interest in implementing palliative care for adults living with progressive central nervous system diseases (PCNSD) and their caregivers is increasing.

OBJECTIVES

To inform evidence-based practice and future research by critically evaluating randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating palliative care interventions (PCIs) for adults living with PCNSD and their caregivers using self-reported outcomes and the patient- and caregiver-reported outcome measures employed.

METHODS

A systematic search using PRISMA methods of EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science databases using index and keyword methods for articles published from inception through February 28, 2021 was performed. RCTs investigating PCI as their primary aim using patient- and/or caregiver-reported outcomes to assess PCI effectiveness in adults living with PCNSD and their caregivers were included for qualitative synthesis.

RESULTS

Five RCTs met criteria and used 21 unique outcome measures. Pooled patient diagnoses included multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease and movement disorders, primarily Parkinson's Disease. All five RCTs assessed PCI effectiveness on patient symptom burden and caregiver burden, and three RCTs used patient QOL as a primary outcome. Overall risk of bias was low. Pooled positive findings were limited to very modest changes in patient QOL, specific physical symptoms and caregiver burden. Most outcome measures lacked clinimetric responsiveness to detect change whether caused by disease or an intervention to the patient or caregiver.

CONCLUSION

Sparse, low-certainty evidence for PCI impact on patient QOL, symptom burden and caregiver burden indicate future research should consider refining study populations, interventions, outcomes assessed and outcome measures to detect any change due to PCI.

Home Based Palliative Care: Known Benefits and Future Directions

Purpose of Review

To summarize key recent evidence regarding the impact of Home-Based Palliative Care (HBPalC) and to highlight opportunities for future study.

Recent Findings

HBPalC is cost effective and benefits patients and caregivers across the health care continuum.

Summary

High-quality data support the cost effectiveness of HBPalC. A growing literature base supports the benefits of HBPalC for patients, families, and informal caregivers by alleviating symptoms, reducing unwanted hospitalizations, and offering support at the end of life. Numerous innovative HBPalC models exist, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence comparing specific models across subpopulations. Our wide literature search captured no research regarding HBPalC for underserved populations. Further research will also be necessary to guide quality standards for HBPalC.

Improved quality of care and reduced healthcare costs at the end-of-life among older people with dementia who received palliative home care: A nationwide propensity score-matched decedent cohort study

BACKGROUND

While palliative home care is advocated for people with dementia, evidence of its effectiveness is lacking.

AIM

To evaluate the effects of palliative home care on quality and costs of end-of-life care for older people with dementia.

DESIGN

Decedent cohort study using linked nationwide administrative databases and propensity score matching.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

All home-dwelling older people who died with dementia between 2010 and 2015 in Belgium (N = 23,670).

EXPOSURE

Receiving palliative home care support for the first time between 360 and 15 days before death.

RESULTS

Five thousand six hundred and thirty-seven (23.8%) received palliative home care support in the last 2 years of life, of whom 2918 received it for the first time between 360 and 15 days before death. Two thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine people who received support were matched to 2839 people who received usual care. After matching, those using palliative home care support, in the last 14 days of life, had lower risk of hospital admission (17.5% vs 50.5%; relative risk (RR) = 0.21), undergoing diagnostic testing (17.0% vs 53.6%; RR = 0.20) and receiving inappropriate medications, but were more likely to die at home (75.7% vs 32.6%; RR = 6.45) and to have primary care professional contacts (mean 11.7 vs mean 5.2), compared with those who did not. Further, they had lower mean total costs of care in the last 30 days of life (incremental cost:-€2129).

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative home care use by home-dwelling older people with dementia is associated with improved quality and reduced costs of end-of-life care. Access remains low and should be increased.

Palliative care interventions in advanced dementia

BACKGROUND

Dementia is a chronic, progressive and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disease. Advanced dementia is characterised by profound cognitive impairment, inability to communicate verbally and complete functional dependence. Usual care of people with advanced dementia is not underpinned universally by a palliative approach. Palliative care has focused traditionally on care of people with cancer, but for more than a decade, there have been calls worldwide to extend palliative care services to include all people with life-limiting illnesses in need of specialist care, including people with dementia. This review is an updated version of a review first published in 2016.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of palliative care interventions in advanced dementia.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched ALOIS, the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group's Specialised Register on 7 October 2020. ALOIS contains records of clinical trials identified from monthly searches of several major healthcare databases, trial registries and grey literature sources. We ran additional searches across MEDLINE (OvidSP), Embase (OvidSP), four other databases and two trial registries on 7 October 2020 to ensure that the searches were as comprehensive and as up-to-date as possible.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We searched for randomised (RCTs) and non-randomised controlled trials (nRCTs), controlled before-and-after studies and interrupted time series studies evaluating the impact of palliative care interventions for adults with advanced dementia of any type. Participants could be people with advanced dementia, their family members, clinicians or paid care staff. We included clinical interventions and non-clinical interventions. Comparators were usual care or another palliative care intervention. We did not exclude studies based on outcomes measured.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

At least two review authors (SW, EM, PC) independently assessed all potential studies identified in the search against the review inclusion criteria. Two authors independently extracted data from eligible studies. Where appropriate, we estimated pooled treatment effects in a fixed-effect meta-analysis. We assessed the risk of bias of included studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the overall certainty of the evidence for each outcome using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

Nine studies (2122 participants) met the review inclusion criteria. Two studies were individually-randomised RCTs, six were cluster-randomised RCTs and one was a controlled before-and-after study. We conducted two separate comparisons: organisation and delivery of care interventions versus usual care (six studies, 1162 participants) and advance care planning interventions versus usual care (three studies, 960 participants). Two studies were carried out in acute hospitals and seven in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. For both comparisons, we found the included studies to be sufficiently similar to conduct meta-analyses. Changes to the organisation and delivery of care for people with advanced dementia may increase comfort in dying (MD 1.49, 95% CI 0.34 to 2.64; 5 studies, 335 participants; very low certainty evidence). However, the evidence is very uncertain and unlikely to be clinically significant. These changes may also increase the likelihood of having a palliative care plan in place (RR 5.84, 95% CI 1.37 to 25.02; 1 study, 99 participants; I² = 0%; very low certainty evidence), but again the evidence is very uncertain. Such interventions probably have little effect on the use of non-palliative interventions (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.72; 2 studies, 292 participants; I² = 0%; moderate certainty evidence). They may also have little or no effect on documentation of advance directives (RR 1.46, 95% CI 0.50 to 4.25; 2 studies, 112 participants; I² = 52%; very low certainty evidence), or whether discussions take place about advance care planning (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.18; 1 study, 193 participants; I² = 0%; very low certainty evidence) and goals of care (RR 2.36, 95% CI 1.00 to 5.54; 1 study, 13 participants; I² = 0%; low certainty evidence). No included studies assessed adverse effects. Advance care planning interventions for people with advanced dementia probably increase the documentation of advance directives (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.41; 2 studies, 384; moderate certainty evidence) and the number of discussions about goals of care (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.59; 2 studies, 384 participants; moderate certainty evidence). They may also slightly increase concordance with goals of care (RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.79; 1 study, 63 participants; low certainty evidence). On the other hand, they may have little or no effect on perceived symptom management (MD -1.80, 95% CI -6.49 to 2.89; 1 study, 67 participants; very low certainty evidence) or whether advance care planning discussions occur (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.24; 1 study, 67 participants; low certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The evidence on palliative care interventions in advanced dementia is limited in quantity and certainty. When compared to usual care, changes to the organisation and delivery of care for people with advanced dementia may lead to improvements in comfort in dying, but the evidence for this was of very low certainty. Advance care planning interventions, compared to usual care, probably increase the documentation of advance directives and the occurrence of discussions about goals of care, and may also increase concordance with goals of care. We did not detect other effects. The uncertainty in the evidence across all outcomes in both comparisons is mainly driven by imprecision of effect estimates and risk of bias in the included studies.

Earlier initiation of palliative care in the disease trajectory of people living with dementia: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

While the need for palliative care for people living with dementia has widely been recognised, they continue to be a disadvantaged group when it comes to timely initiation, and controversies remain regarding appropriate timing, or what elements constitute high quality palliative care early in the disease trajectory. To date, no literature review has summarised this debate or offered insights. The aim of this scoping review is to provide a general overview of research regarding palliative care in mild or moderate dementia, to identify existing controversies, and to examine what are key components of palliative care in dementia, specifically when initiated earlier in the disease trajectory.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Consistent with recent guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews, we carried out a search for academic literature in PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Web of Science; on 5 November 2019 and an updated search on 2 February 2021. We will include studies with different study designs published in English over the last decade that focused on palliative care in early stages of dementia. We will include models targeting at least one outcome domain of palliative care (physical, psychological, social or spiritual) and advance care planning, and will exclude hospice models with limited prognosis similar to the requirements in the USA. We will report study characteristics and quality. We aim to apply narrative synthesis techniques to develop a theoretical model of how, for whom and why palliative care can be relevant in early stages of dementia, and what are facilitators and barriers. We anticipate to also describe if and how the concept of (early) palliative care in dementia changed across time and studies.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

No ethical review required. Results will identify research gaps and lay out basic principles for conceptualising palliative care in early stages of dementia.

Hospital at home: home-based end-of-life care

BACKGROUND

The policy several countries is to provide people with a terminal illness the choice of dying at home; this is supported by surveys that indicate that the general public and people with a terminal illness would prefer to receive end-of-life care at home. This is the fifth update of the original review.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if providing home-based end-of-life care reduces the likelihood of dying in hospital and what effect this has on patients' symptoms, quality of life, health service costs and caregivers compared with inpatient hospital or hospice care.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE(R), Embase, CINAHL, and clinical trials registries to 18 March 2020. We checked the reference lists of systematic reviews. For included studies, we checked the reference lists and performed a forward search using ISI Web of Science. We handsearched palliative care journals indexed by ISI Web of Science for online first references.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of home-based end-of-life care with inpatient hospital or hospice care for people aged 18 years and older.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed study quality. When appropriate, we combined published data for dichotomous outcomes using a fixed-effect Mantel-Haenszel meta-analysis to calculate risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). When combining outcome data was not possible, we reported the results from individual studies.

MAIN RESULTS

We included four randomised trials and found no new studies from the search in March 2020. Home-based end-of-life care increased the likelihood of dying at home compared with usual care (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.52; 2 trials, 539 participants; I² = 25%; high-certainty evidence). Admission to hospital varied among the trials (range of RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.79, to RR 2.61, 95% CI 1.50 to 4.55). The effect on patient outcomes and control of symptoms was uncertain. Home-based end-of-life care may slightly improve patient satisfaction at one-month follow-up, with little or no difference at six-month follow-up (2 trials; low-certainty evidence). The effect on caregivers (2 trials; very low-certainty evidence), staff (1 trial; very low-certainty evidence) and health service costs was uncertain (2 trials, very low-certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The evidence included in this review supports the use of home-based end-of-life care programmes for increasing the number of people who will die at home. Research that assesses the impact of home-based end-of-life care on caregivers and admissions to hospital would be a useful addition to the evidence base, and might inform the delivery of these services.

Referral criteria to specialist palliative care for patients with dementia: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patients with dementia often have significant symptom burden and a progressive course of functional deterioration. Specialist palliative care referral may be helpful, but it is unclear who and when patients should be referred. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to examine referral criteria for palliative care among patients with dementia.

METHODS

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and CINAHL databases for articles from inception to December 3, 2019, related to specialist palliative care referral for dementia. Two investigators independently reviewed the citations for inclusion, extracted the referral criteria, and categorized them thematically.

RESULTS

Of the 1788 citations, 59 articles were included in the final sample. We identified 13 categories of referral criteria, including 6 disease-based and 7 needs-based criteria. The most commonly discussed criterion was "dementia stage" (n = 43, 73%), followed by "new diagnosis of dementia" (n = 17, 29%), "medical complications of dementia" (n = 12, 20%), "prognosis" (n = 11, 19%), and "physical symptoms" (n = 11, 19%). Under dementia stage, 37/44 (84%) articles recommended a palliative care referral for advanced dementia. Pneumonia (n = 6, 10%), fall/fracture (n = 4, 7%), and decubitus ulcers (n = 4, 7%) were most commonly discussed complications to trigger a referral. Under prognosis, the time frame for referral varied from <2 years of life expectancy to <6 months. 3 (5%) of articles recommended "surprise question" as a potential trigger.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review highlighted the lack of consensus regarding referral criteria for palliative care in patients with dementia and the need to identify timely triggers to standardize referral.

Los cuidados paliativos domiciliares reducen las consultas a urgencias y muertes en centros de salud a un menor costo

Resumen Objetivos Comparar los tipos de asistencia domiciliar geriátrica y paliativa para determinar cuál obtiene mejores resultados en los pacientes con demencia avanzada. Métodos El presente es un estudio de cohorte retrospectiva. Se incluyeron pacientes con demencia avanzada ingresados al programa de Atención Comunitaria Geriátrica de un hospital geriátrico público de Costa Rica en el periodo entre enero de 2018 y junio de 2019. Ellos se dividieron en dos grupos dependiendo del equipo especializado que realizó la atención domiciliaria y se analizaron sus características sociodemográficas y clínicas. Posteriormente, se analizaron los datos generados de los registros médicos sobre consultas de emergencia, hospitalización, lugar de defunción y costo de la visita generados por cada paciente entre junio de 2018 y diciembre de 2019. Se compararon 192 pacientes con demencia avanzada Global Dementia Scale 7 visitados por el equipo geriátricos especializado domiciliar con 19 de visitados por el equipo de cuidados paliativos especializado domiciliar del Hospital Geriátrico Nacional. Resultados Se analizaron 226 datos generados (192 por el programa de geriatría y 34 por el de paliativos). Los que recibían atención domiciliaria por un equipo paliativo tenían menos probabilidades de acudir a la sala de emergencias y morir en un centro de salud en comparación con aquellos que reciben atención domiciliaria por un equipo geriátrico, con un costo menor. Conclusiones El programa de cuidado paliativo especializado domiciliar reduce las consultas de emergencia, la muerte en el domicilio y los costos de atención en pacientes con demencia avanzada en comparación con el programa geriátrico.

Physicians' perceived barriers and proposed solutions for high-quality palliative care in dementia in the Netherlands: Qualitative analysis of survey data

Background

The literature indicates that palliative care for people with dementia needs to be enhanced.

Objectives

To assess barriers to providing high-quality palliative dementia care and potential solutions to overcome these barriers, as perceived by physicians responsible for end-of-life care with dementia.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The Netherlands.

Participants

A representative sample of 311 elderly care physicians of whom 67% (n=207) responded.

Measurements

A postal survey in 2013 containing open-ended items probing for barriers in the elderly care physicians' practices and possible solutions. Answers were coded and grouped using qualitative content analysis and presented to expert physicians in 2021.

Results

Barriers to palliative care in dementia were (1) beliefs held by family, healthcare professionals or the public that are not in line with a palliative care approach, (2) obstacles in recognizing and addressing care needs, (3) poor interdisciplinary team approach and consensus, (4) limited use or availability of resources, and (5) poor family support and involvement. Suggested solutions were improving communication and information transfer, and educating healthcare staff, families and the public about palliative care in dementia. Timely and frequent communication with the family, including advance care planning, and more highly skilled nursing staff were also proposed as solutions.

Conclusions

The results suggest a strong need for ongoing education for healthcare professionals about palliative dementia care. Strengthening interprofessional collaboration and shared responsibility for advance care planning is also key. Increasing public awareness of the dementia trajectory and the need for a proactive approach call for a broader societal agenda setting.

The Association between Home Healthcare and Burdensome Transitions at the End-of-Life in People with Dementia: A 12-Year Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

For people with dementia, burdensome transitions may indicate poorer-quality end-of-life care. Little is known regarding the association between home healthcare (HHC) and these burdensome transitions. We aimed to investigate the impact of HHC on transitions and hospital/intensive care unit (ICU) utilisation nearing the end-of-life for people with dementia at a national level.

METHODS

A nested case-control analysis was applied in a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide electronic records database. We included people with new dementia diagnoses who died during 2002-2013 in whole population data from the universal healthcare system in Taiwan. Burdensome transitions were defined as multiple hospitalisations in the last 90 days (early transitions, ET) or any hospitalisation or emergency room visit in the last three days of life (late transitions, LT). People with (cases) and without (controls) burdensome transitions were matched on a ratio of 1:2. We performed conditional logistic regression with stratified analyses to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the risks of transitions.

RESULTS

Among 150,125 people with new dementia diagnoses, 61,399 died during follow-up, and 31.1% had burdensome transitions (50% were early and 50% late). People with ET had the highest frequency of admissions and longer stays in hospital/ICU during their last year of life, while people with LT had fewer hospital/ICU utilisation than people without end-of-life transitions. Receiving HHC was associated with an increased risk of ET (OR = 1.14, 95 % CI: 1.08-1.21) but a decreased risk of LT (OR = 0.89, 95 % CI 0.83-0.94). In the people receiving HHC, however, those who received longer duration (e.g., OR = 0.50, 95 % CI: 0.42-0.60, >365 versus ≤30 days) or more frequent HHC or HHC delivered closer to the time of death were associated with a remarkably lower risk of ET.

CONCLUSIONS

HHC has differential effects on early and late transitions. Characteristics of HHC such as better continuity or interdisciplinary coordination may reduce the risk of transitions at the end-of-life. We need further studies to understand the longitudinal effects of HHC and its synergy with palliative care, as well as the key components of HHC that achieve better end-of-life outcomes.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Dementia Patients Who Receive Inpatient Palliative Care Consultation

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Acute hospitalization may be an ideal opportunity to introduce palliative care to dementia patients, who may benefit from symptom management and goals of care discussions. We know little about patients who receive inpatient palliative care consultations (IPCCs).

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis using electronic medical record.

SETTING

Tertiary academic medical center and affiliated community hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with dementia by International Classification of Diseases diagnosis, 65 years or older, hospitalized between July 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015.

MEASUREMENTS

We used χ² and t-test/Mann-Whitney U test to compare characteristics (living arrangement, advanced dementia markers, diagnoses of delirium and dementia with behavior disturbance, and admitting diagnosis) and outcomes (change in code status, length of stay [LOS], discharge disposition, and discharge medications for symptom management) of patients who did and did not receive IPCC. Patients were matched on sex, age, and race.

RESULTS

Among 927 hospitalized patients with dementia, 17% received IPCC (N = 157). Patients who received IPCC were more likely to be admitted from a nursing facility (35.7% vs 12.7%; P < .0001), experience delirium (71.3% vs 57.3%; P = .01), have behavior disturbance (23.6% vs 13.4%; P = .02), have a pressure ulcer at admission (26.1% vs 11.5%; P = .001), have hypernatremia (12.7% vs 3.2%; P = .002), and be bedbound (20.4% vs 3.2%; P < .000). Patients who received IPCC had a longer LOS (median = 5.9 vs 4.3 days; P = .004) and were more likely to be discharged to hospice (56% vs 3.1%; P < .0001). Patients with IPCC were more likely to have a discharge code status of do not attempt resuscitation (89% vs 46%). There was no significant difference in comfort medications at discharge between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who received IPCC had evidence of more advanced dementia. These patients were more likely to change their code status and enroll in hospice. IPCC may be useful to prioritize patient-centered care and discuss what matters most to patients and families.

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.

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.

Care preferences of healthy, middle-aged adults in Japan and the USA if they acquired dementia: A cross-sectional observational study

AIM

Japan introduced dementia-friendly initiatives into its national policies to help people with dementia remain involved in society for as long as possible. However, some people might choose to live in a nursing home to avoid care burden on family members. Understanding middle-aged adults' preferences for place of care and identifying factors that influence their preferences would help policy decision-makers promote dementia-friendly initiatives. The present study aimed to investigate the care preferences of middle-aged adults if they acquired dementia in Japan and the USA.

METHODS

We carried out a cross-sectional observational study using an internet-based questionnaire survey of Japanese residents with Japanese ethnicity, Japanese Americans, and non-Asian Americans aged 40-70 years. A total of 301 participants, including 104 Japanese residents, 93 Japanese Americans and 104 non-Asian Americans, completed the survey. Participants were asked to answer the items based on a hypothetical situation in which they had acquired dementia requiring regular care and supervision.

RESULTS

Participants preferred nursing home care (29.9%), followed by professional home care (19.6%), family home care (17.6%) and hospital care (11.3%). Japanese residents had a significantly lower preference for professional home care than did Japanese or non-Asian Americans (adjusted odds ratio 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.75). Between-ethnicity difference in care preferences was not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

A low preference for professional home care among the middle-aged adults might be influenced by country-specific long-term and dementia care systems. Policy decision-makers should develop professional home care services that are more available for families of people living with dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 829-833.