Huang Hsiu-Li, Weng Li-Chueh, Yeh Mei Chang
School of Nursing, National Taiwan University, ROC.
Hu Li Za Zhi. 2011 Feb;58(1):91-6.
Dementia is irreversible. Although currently available drugs are typically able to ameliorate symptoms and slow down its progress, there is yet no known cure for this disease. The inevitable consequence of dementia is the gradual deterioration of the condition until final decline into the end of life stage. The priority care plan for patients with end stage dementia, therefore, must focus on palliative care that provides for a comfortable and high as possible quality of life. However, dementia is rarely looked upon as an end-stage disease. In 2009, the Taiwan National Health Insurance began reimbursing the costs of hospice care for patients with end stage dementia. This paper discusses end stage dementia cases in which patients received inappropriate interventions during their final days as well as the barriers faced in developing countries to providing palliative care. This paper also suggests strategies to promote quality of care and quality of life in people with end of life dementia.
痴呆症是不可逆的。尽管目前可用的药物通常能够缓解症状并减缓其进展，但尚无已知的治愈方法。痴呆症不可避免的后果是病情逐渐恶化，直至最终进入生命末期。因此，晚期痴呆症患者的优先护理计划必须侧重于姑息治疗，以提供舒适且尽可能高的生活质量。然而，痴呆症很少被视为终末期疾病。2009年，台湾地区国民健康保险开始为晚期痴呆症患者报销临终关怀费用。本文讨论了晚期痴呆症患者在生命末期接受不适当干预的案例，以及发展中国家在提供姑息治疗方面面临的障碍。本文还提出了提高临终痴呆症患者护理质量和生活质量的策略。
