A palliative approach to care of residents with dementia
Intended for healthcare professionals
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A palliative approach to care of residents with dementia

Della Roberts Clinical nurse specialist, End of life care programme at Fraser Health Authority, Delta Hospital, British Columbia, Canada
Gina Gaspard Clinical nurse specialist, Residential care and assisted living programme at Fraser Health Authority, Delta Hospital, British Columbia, Canada

Della Roberts and Gina Gaspard evaluate a workshop that used critical reflection to help healthcare providers review their end of life strategies

Dementia is a progressive, life-limiting illness. People with the condition who move into a care home deserve palliative care. This article discusses an interprofessional pilot workshop for direct care providers held in a care home in British Columbia, Canada. The workshop aimed to incorporate a palliative approach into dementia care for residents. Workshop development, teaching strategies, evaluation and outcomes are shared.

The four-hour workshop was structured to promote critical reflection and challenge participants to consider that people with dementia and their families need palliative care much earlier than during the last days of life. Commitment to change statements gathered as part of the workshop indicated that participation increased knowledge, skill and confidence to incorporate a palliative approach into care for people with advanced dementia and their families.

Nursing Older People. 25, 2, 32-36. doi: 10.7748/nop2013.03.25.2.32.e703

Correspondence

della.roberts@fraserhealth.ca

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

The pilot was supported and funded as a non-restricted project through the Delta Hospital Foundation, Canada

Received: 25 January 2012

Accepted: 17 October 2012

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