Posted on
7 May 2025
Read time
1 minute
This paper, produced from a study led by Professors Liz Sampson (ACHA) and Nathan Davies (QMUL), UCL and the Cicely Saunders Institute at Kings College London.
Dementia is one of the leading causes of death, but people can live well towards the end of life, if the right care is provided at the right time. As the condition progresses, the need for a palliative approach—focused on holistic and emotional support—becomes increasingly important. While we know that supporting wellbeing and managing behavioural symptoms are vital, our recent review found that key aspects of care are being overlooked.
In this paper, we analysed 34 reviews of psychosocial interventions for people with dementia near the end of life. While many studies focus on managing distressing symptoms and enhancing quality of life, we found very few that address equally important areas such as care planning, transitions between care settings, and support for carers.
By identifying these gaps, we hope to guide future research and practice to better support people with dementia and their loved ones throughout the final stages of life.
You can read the article in full here.
