Abstract

There are major problems in end-of-life care for people with dementia.

Staff and relatives, particularly in care home settings (where often a significant majority of residents with dementia lack capacity), can find discussion about end of life care especially difficult to bring up. Difficulties relating to mental capacity and the often unpredictable decline with dementia in the last few months mean that dementia-specific approaches need to be developed to meet the needs of people with dementia and their families.

This project recruited former carers, who had looked after a relative with dementia until they died, to aid staff and relatives in discussing advance care planning.

This presentation discusses the recruitment process and the training needs identified by the carers themselves. A detailed description of their work in the care homes and also in staff training will be discussed.