Palliative care for people with dementia: Stephen Willis and Melsina Makaza investigate the appropriateness of using a palliative care model for people with end-stage or advanced dementia. They argue that such an approach could be a viable alternative to current practice

Stephen Willis and Melsina Makaza investigate the appropriateness of using a palliative care model for people with end-stage or advanced dementia. They argue that such an approach could be a viable alternative to current practice Treating older people as individuals is a key objective of the National Service Framework for Older People, which states that older people should ‘receive appropriate and timely packages of care which meet their needs as individuals, regardless of health and social service boundaries’ (Department of Health (DH) 2001). Anecdotally, the philosophy of hospice care can be seen as providing for the material, medical, mental and spiritual welfare of people who are suffering from any illness that is likely to terminate life. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE 2006) guidelines for dementia care say that health and social care professionals should adopt a palliative care approach when working with people with dementia and their carers.