%0 Journal Article
%T Improving end-of-life care for people with dementia: a mixed-methods study.
%A Triandafilidis Z
%A Carr S
%A Davis D
%A Jeong SY
%A Hensby J
%A Wong D
%A Attia J
%A Goodwin N
%J BMC Palliat Care
%V 23
%N 1
%D 2024 Jan 30
%M 38291401
%F 3.113
%R 10.1186/s12904-023-01335-w
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Improving palliative and end-of-life care for people with dementia is a growing priority globally. This study aimed to integrate multiple perspectives on end-of-life care for people with dementia and carers, to identify clinically relevant areas for improvement.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The mixed-methods study involved surveys, interviews, and workshops with two participant groups: healthcare professionals and carers (individuals who provided care and support to a family member or friend). Healthcare professionals were invited to complete an online adapted version of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, End-of-Life Care Toolkit: Clinician Survey Questions. Carers completed a hard copy or online adapted version of the Views of Informal Carers-Evaluation of Services (Short form) (VOICES-SF) questionnaire. Interview schedules were semi-structured, and workshops followed a co-design format. Findings were integrated narratively using a weaving approach.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Five areas in which we can improve care for people with dementia at the end of life, were identified: 1) Timely recognition of end of life; 2) Conversations about palliative care and end of life; 3) Information and support for people with dementia and carers; 4) Person-and-carer-centred care; 5) Accessing quality, coordinated care.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>There are multiple areas where we can improve the quality of end-of-life care people with dementia receive. The findings demonstrate that the heterogeneous and challenging experiences of living with and caring for people with dementia necessitate a multidisciplinary, multifaceted approach to end-of-life care. The identified solutions, including care coordination, can guide local development of co-designed models of end-of-life care for people with dementia.