End of Life
Care and Support
End of life care should support the person to live as well as possible until they die, especially their physical needs, including pain relief and management of other symptoms. their emotional needs, including managing distress.
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When a person with dementia is nearing the end of life, compassionate care is essential for their comfort and dignity. Dementia is a progressive condition, and everyone with the diagnosis will die with or from it. Understanding the changes that may happen in the last few days can help you feel more prepared for what to expect.
While it may be upsetting to think about, having important conversations with your loved ones, and talking together about the future, can mean the person living with dementia can have a better experience at the end of their life.
TALKING ABOUT DEATH AND DYING TO SOMEONE WITH DEMENTIA
- It is good to start a conversation with someone living with dementia about what to expect and what sort of care they might want as soon as it is possible.
- This allows time to make decisions about treatment, funeral planning and discuss your end of life wishes.
It might be useful to talk about the following things:
- What to expect as the condition progresses
- Reviewing your will and activating power of attorney
- What to do if they need daily help, for example arranging for extra care or moving somewhere else
- Wishes and preferences about how to be cared for, including treatment they might want to refuse
- What might happen in an emergency, and who should be contacted
- Making a funeral plan
- Organ donation preferences, such a brain donation for research
These might seem like difficult things to talk about, but by having these conversations you are making sure they receive the care they want, and their wishes are carried out.
Further help and support can be found from the Alzheimer’s Society, My Future Care
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Community Blog – short informative stories written by our readers. Both professionals and people living with dementia or caring for someone with dementia.
