title: [The final phase of dementia in a group of nursing home patients: prevalence and characteristics].
abstract: There is scant literature about patients in the final phase of dementia. Uniform terminology and operational definition of the final phase of dementia is lacking. Furthermore, it is difficult to monitor these patients because existing assessment scales face bottom- or ceiling effects in this population. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and the characteristics of patients in the final phase of dementia in a group of 210 Dutch nursing home patients with dementia. Stage 7 of the Global Deterioration Scale of Reisberg et al. was used to operationally define the final phase of dementia. All patients were scored on a self-constructed assessment scale. Furthermore, treatment aspects and advance directives were registered.
authors.affiliation: Stichting Kalorama, Beek-Ubbergen. jonge@kalorama.nl
authors.forename: J W D
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: J L P
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ekkerink
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Touma
authors.forename: R T C M
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Koopmans
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors