title: End-of-life care in advanced dementia.
abstract: In the next 30 years, the average age of the population will continue to increase, as will the prevalence of dementia. The management of advanced dementia requires the careful orchestration of communication, prognostication, patient care, and caregiver education. Understanding the specific tools available to establish prognosis and guide medical management in these complicated medical patients greatly improves patient and caregiver satisfaction at the end of the patient's life. In caring for patients with advanced-stage dementia, providers should be knowledgeable regarding the terminal nature of the condition and its common comorbid diseases, and should be prepared to educate the patients' caregivers, building a structure of support for the patient's benefit and navigating the complexities of end-of-life care.
authors.affiliation: 1Chief Resident, Department of Family, Community, and Preventive Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia PA. Dr.Christopher.Heron@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.forename: B Brent
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D032722:Advance Care Planning; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003693:Delirium / Q000628:therapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D059408:Pain Management; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013727:Terminal Care