Palliative Care Models for Dementia in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review

Palliative care is essential for improving the quality of life (QoL) for individuals with dementia, especially in nursing homes. This systematic review aims to recognize, weigh, and appraise different palliative care models specifically designed for people with dementia in nursing homes.

A systematic search was carried out on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar to find palliative care models or interventions specifically designed for individuals with dementia cared for in nursing homes and studies reporting outcomes related to their characteristics or efficacy. The strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) checklist and consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT) were used to evaluate the quality of the included articles. The search period spanned from inception until July 2023.

Of 1880 articles retrieved, 5 were deemed eligible in the study. Also, 5 models were identified: The palliative care for older people in Europe (PACE) steps to success program, comfort first, palliative care consultations, Improving palliative care education and training using simulation in dementia (IMPETUS-D), and the compassion model.

By thoroughly examining these different models, we shed light on the achievements and obstacles in improving the quality of care for individuals with dementia in nursing homes. However, more research is needed to ensure the effectiveness of these models, specifically those tailored to dementia patients in nursing homes. Identifying these five models represents a crucial step forward, but further investigation is essential to validate their efficacy and suitability within this population.