Between death and ignorance: the challenges of palliative care in elderly patients with dementia.

Abstract

Dementia is an incurable neurodegenerative disease, which mainly affects the elderly, resulting in loss of cognition and coordination. With the increase in life expectancy, it has become one of the leading causes of death in this age group. Limited access and poor quality of palliative care are challenges faced, along with the difficulty in assessing and treating pain, and the lack of effective communication with patients. Socially disadvantaged groups are most affected. It is necessary to prioritize person-centered care, offering psychosocial and spiritual support. This work aims to understand the challenges of palliative care in elderly people with dementia. A systematic review of the literature was performed on the PubMed platform. 32 articles were found and, after reading and evaluation, 15 final articles were selected. The data indicated that although dementia in the elderly population represents the seventh place among the 20 main causes of death from diseases in the world, the care that involves it is limited in terms of delaying its progression and providing a better quality of life for these patients. . Palliative care in elderly patients with dementia represents a complex challenge that requires specific care and a multidisciplinary approach. The implementation of adequate neuropalliative care protocols and effective communication between health professionals, patients and family members can significantly improve the quality of life of these patients.