New standards could transform palliative care for dementia patients

New standards could transform palliative care for dementia patients 
McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 5/15/25 
An Invited Commentary published Wednesday [5/14] in JAMA Network Open highlights vital new consensus on when to refer dementia patients to specialist palliative care. The commentary, authored by Laura J. Morrison, MD, from Yale University School of Medicine, analyzes the Delphi survey study, which established the first international agreement on palliative care referral criteria for dementia patients.The Delphi survey study, led by Yuchieh K. Chang, DO, and colleagues, brought together 63 experts from five continents who identified 15 major criteria for specialist palliative care referral, grouped into five categories: dementia type, symptom distress, psychosocial factors, comorbidities and hospital use. Each major criterion was considered sufficient on its own to warrant referral, even for patients expected to live more than two years. Additionally, the study outlined 42 minor criteria, which could be used in combination to justify a referral decision.