Advanced Dementia Care is Vital to Quality of Life, Part 1 (EFA‪)‬

Until recently, very few people knew how to really take care of people with advanced dementia. New approaches were designed and quality of life and care are now viewed much differently than before through a long-term project with the Greater Southwest Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix. The culmination of the project resulted in a manual and guidelines for caring for those with advanced dementia. For several years, I had the privilege to serve on this committee for the entire length of the project. I oversaw an Advanced Dementia Palliative Care Unit for four years, where I was able to apply many new techniques and observe lives change for the better. A positive outcome I noted was staff became more comfortable with this end-stage process and families became much more involved and enlightened as the end drew near. The Advanced Dementia Palliative Care approach is one of comfort care. In fact, any good dementia care, whatever the stage maybe, should have comfort care as the main focus for residents. During the process of offering comfort, one needs to review the psychological needs of the residents and their families; dignity, quality of life, respect for the person that remains inside, the environment, and the abilities that are still intact.