As dementia progresses, individuals and their families may face complex decisions about care, comfort, and quality of life. This page offers resources on hospice and palliative care to support compassionate, person-centered approaches during the later stages of dementia. These resources provide guidance on managing pain and distress, honoring individual values and goals, and navigating end-of-life care with dignity and support.

Resources

Behavioral Symptoms and Treatment Challenges for Patients Living with Dementia: Hospice Clinician and Caregiver Perspectives. (2024). Sadowska, K., Turnwald, M., O’Neil, T., Maust, D. T., & Gerlach, L. B. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 1–11. Available at https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.19320.

  • This study explores the challenges of managing behavioral symptoms in dementia patients receiving hospice care. It found that agitation, including physical and verbal aggression, was the most concerning symptom. Clinicians were mainly focused on ensuring the patient’s safety, while caregivers were more distressed by how agitation altered their loved one’s personality. The study highlights the importance of improving communication between clinicians and caregivers to better manage symptoms and make informed decisions about medication use.

Understanding the Differences Between Palliative and Hospice Care. Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Available at https://alzfdn.org/understanding-differences-palliative-hospice-care/.

  • This article highlights the differences between palliative and hospice care. Palliative care provides relief from symptoms and pain at any stage of a chronic illness, improving quality of life with a supportive healthcare team. Hospice care, for those with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less, focuses on comfort and symptom management without curative treatment. Understanding the difference between palliative and hospice care is important because it helps individuals and families make informed decisions about care options based on the stage of illness and the goals of treatment.

What is the Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice Care? CaringInfo. Available at https://www.caringinfo.org/types-of-care/what-is-the-difference-between-palliative-care-and-hospice-care/.

  • This article explains the key differences between palliative care and hospice care, including who qualifies, what services are provided, and how care is paid for—helping individuals make informed decisions about end-of-life or serious illness care.