Integrated End of Life Care in Dementia: Recognizing Dementia as a Life-Limiting Illness and The Benefits of Implementing Palliative Care

Dementia is a life-limiting illness that involves cognitive impairment and a declining level of functioning in affected patients. Over 55 million individuals worldwide live with dementia and this number is expected to rise due to increase of the aging population. Despite its prevalence, dementia is not a part of normal aging and can be challenging to manage. There is a need for individualized care to manage this complex illness. Integrated palliative care in dementia is a multidisciplinary approach that can help to address the needs of this population and maximize quality of life for the affected population. This book outlines the benefits of palliative care in dementia, and discusses important concepts not to be overlooked while caring for these patients such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, prognostication, polypharmacy, existent models of palliative care, challenges that patients and caregivers face during illness trajectory, and much more.