Palliative care for advanced dementia

Dementia is a common, devastating, and ultimately fatal illness. Although n o cure exists for most causes of dementia, palliative interventions for the predictable complications of the illness can effectively reduce the suffer ing of patients and families. Care of patients with end-stage dementia is c linically and conceptually consistent with hospice and palliative care, and this approach to care for patients with terminal dementia is preferred. Al though the 6-month risk for mortality can be predicted (to satisfy current American hospice eligibility requirements), palliative care interventions a re appropriate much earlier in the course of deterioration from dementia.