Hospice study reveals contrasting views on managing dementia behaviors

Hospice study reveals contrasting views on managing dementia behaviors 
McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 12/20/24 
A new study finds that healthcare providers and family caregivers often disagree on how best to manage dementia behaviors during end-of-life care. The research, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, involved interviews with 23 hospice clinicians and 20 family caregivers. With dementia affecting 33% of adults over age 85 and now ranking as the primary diagnosis for Medicare hospice services, understanding these differing perspectives about managing dementia behaviors has become increasingly important. The study found that while both groups identified agitation as the most concerning behavioral symptom, they approached it from different angles. Clinicians primarily worried about physical safety risks, while family caregivers were more distressed by personality changes in their loved ones.