Commentary: Prognostication in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Commentary: Prognostication in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias 
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society / Early View; by Natalie C. Ernecoff PhD, MPH, Kathryn L. Wessell MPH, Laura C. Hanson MD, MPH; 8/8/24  
... Hospice provides comfort-oriented care, emphasizing patient-tailored elements of quality of life, including time with family, access to nature, and music. In late-stage ADRD, studies show that a majority of families prioritize comfort-oriented treatment, and understanding prognosis may help them align treatments accordingly. Yet, only 15% of people enrolled in hospice with a primary diagnosis of ADRD. This is due to difficulty estimating 6-month prognosis required for hospice eligibility—ADRD carries a prognosis of 12–18 months in the latest stage. While low rates of live discharges from hospice are a regulatory requirement for hospices, people who are increasingly experiencing ADRD progression lose access to those beneficial hospice services. ...