Defining and measuring outcomes in end-stage dementia.

The authors propose 13 domains to examine the quality of care and make the argument that for dying patients with dementia, measures of satisfaction and patient or family reports of specific events may be the most important markers of thequality of care.

Abstract

Dementia is a life-defining illness that impacts both patients and their loved ones. For dying patients with dementia, there are important and meaningful outcomes that reflect the quality of care. The authors propose 13 domains to examine the quality of care and make the argument that for these patients and their families, measures of satisfaction and patient or family reports of specific events may be the most important markers of the quality of care.