Integrating palliative care into dementia care (Pall-Dem care) to improve outcomes and experiences of people living with advanced dementia and their family caregivers

Introduction

Cognitive impairments, such as dementia, contribute to ≥ 11% of years lived with disability among people aged 60 years and older. The integration of palliative care into dementia care (Pall-Dem care) is essential for delivering equitable, effective, and person-centred care for older people with cognitive impairments and caregivers. However, little is known about palliative care needs in people with moderate and severe cognitive impairments who live at home or in care homes, and how these needs change with disease progression.

Objectives

This award will support Ping to develop their research career in Pall-Dem care and find strategies to improve experiences and outcomes of people living with dementia and family caregivers in the West Midlands. Specific objectives are to:

• Establish a Pall-Dem care hub for the West Midlands to identify research priorities
• Co-develop a research proposal for subsequent grant application to generate the evidence base to improve person-centred care for people living with advanced dementia and caregivers
• Undertake a personalised training programme to build capacity.