Dementia

The Dementia Palliative Care Team

The Dementia Palliative Care Team is available for families of patients or care homes who have loved ones/patients with advanced Dementia who may be struggling with their health and care needs. You can self refer directly.

Telephone referrals can be made via the Community Access Point:

Call 01332 564900 and request the Dementia Palliative Care Team

Hours of operations: 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday

“The primary goal of the team is to enable improved palliative care for people living with advanced dementia, with mental and physical health needs in care homes/supported living or their own home. The resource will be focused on ensuring the person remains at home (wherever home is) and avoiding unnecessary acute care admission. The team will also support discharges from
acute hospital beds and pathway 3.

We assess, plan care for and consult on people with advanced dementia and co-morbid conditions which make care and treatment complex. We use an evidence based approach that supports palliative care for this group of patients.

• People with advanced dementia approaching the end of their life (acknowledge that unlike other terminal health conditions it is very hard to predict probable time to death)
• People with dementia & other terminal conditions
• People with dementia and co-morbid health conditions
• People with dementia, frailty and delirium
• People with dementia that require support to advance care plan in the early stages of their condition

What we do:

Offer consultancy and advice, assessment and care planning for people with advanced dementia, palliative and/or end of life care needs including areas such as; Identify and manage symptoms associated with advanced dementia and end of life, i.e. pain, terminal agitation, nausea and vomiting, secretions, breathlessness

• Identify possible symptoms when a person is not able to clearly state what their symptoms are i.e. pain
• Palliative care needs holistic assessment
• End of life care planning
• Advance Care Planning
• Support with physical, emotional, and psychological issues
• Advice/signposting on social/ financial concerns
• Advice and support coming to terms with the progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s and likely deterioration
• Support and management of co-morbid conditions
• Delirium
• Polypharmacy and medication rationalisation (where appropriate)
• Offer education and signpost to further educational resources”