Extending palliative care to patients with dementia

The hospice movement was initially developed in response to the perceived needs of terminally ill cancer patients (Addington-Hall and Higginson, 2005). It is now a key principle in the guidance on the commissioning of palliative care services for adults that every person with any life-threatening illness has the right to receive appropriate palliative care. This has been endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2006) and the National Council for Palliative Care (Evers et al, 2006), Lord Darzi's NHS next stage review and by the End of Life Care Strategy for England published by the Department of Health (2008a,b). Turning these strategies into a reality for all patients remains a challenge for all heath-care professionals. This article focuses on the particular challenges faced in providing palliative care for patients with end-stage dementia.