Implications for practice and research

• ▪ Providing palliative care to people with dementia is perceived as effective and is an increasing feature of care at the end of life.

• ▪ A lack of awareness about the role played by palliative care providers in end-of-life dementia care is a major barrier to its usage.

• ▪ Providing support to families is viewed as the most important aspect of palliative care work in end-of-life dementia care.

• ▪ More research about the scope and nature of palliative care for people with dementia is required.

Context

It is estimated that just under 700 000 people are living with dementia in the UK, with prevalence expected to increase by over 150% by the middle of the 21st century.1 About 100 000 people with dementia die each year in the UK, and end-of-life experiences for people with dementia and their families are characterised by institutional forms of care, often in acute hospital settings.2 This article addresses the growing issue of access to palliative care for people with dementia. It seeks to determine the …