Treatment decision making involving patients with dementia in acute care: A scoping review

Older persons with dementia (PWD) are frequently treated in acute care settings, with prevalence estimates of up to 40% [1], where they may receive aggressive, nonbeneficial care [2,3]. About 10% of nursing home residents with advanced cognitive impairment, including dementia, are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) [2] and half of patients with advanced dementia who receive mechanical ventilation die within 30 days of admission [3]. Decisions about initiating or limiting certain treatments or care (a “treatment decision”) occur frequently at the end of life but may occur at any stage of the disease.

Source: Patient Education and Counseling - July 2, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Kristen E. Pecanac, Mary Wyman, Amy J.H. Kind, Corrine I. Voils Source Type: research