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| Development and evaluation of the REACH (Recognise End of life And Care Holistically) out in Dementia toolkit |
| Author(s) | Jan M Potter, Ramesh Fernando, Nancy Humpel |
| Journal title | Australasian Journal on Ageing, vol 32, no 4, December 2013 |
| Publisher | Wiley Blackwell, December 2013 |
| Pages | pp 241-246 |
| Source | wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ajag |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Ill health ; Symptoms ; Dying ; Evaluation ; Terminal care ; Instruments ; Measurement. |
| Annotation | The purpose of the study was to identify evidence based signs and symptoms indicative of end stage dementia, and develop the REACH (Recognise End of Life and Care Holistically) toolkit as an aid for staff to consider a palliative approach. A systematic literature review was conducted of policy, position documents, guidelines and publications from 1988 to 2011. Inclusion criteria were any report or article identifying the signs and symptoms of end stage dementia which were associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Eight signs and symptoms associated with worsening function and increased mortality were identified. These were: dependence on others for all activities of daily living; communication difficulties; eating and/or feeding difficulties; deterioration in mobility and posture; development of contractures because of muscle rigidity; persistent confusion; recurrent infections; and inability to recognise familiar objects or family and friends. All these were incorporated into a toolkit which was reviewed by experienced clinicians. The toolkit was then trialled in six aged care facilities (ACFs). As a result 182 residents with dementia were identified as being at the end stage. Overall study findings of the study showed that use of the toolkit improved the recognition of end stage dementia among staff in ACFs. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-150605250 A |
| Classmark | EA: CH: CT: CX: 4C: LV: YW4: 3R |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |