Chapter 40: Palliative and end-of-life care in mental health care

1. Name the main types of Dementia which you will encounter?

Answer: Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy Body disease, and rarer conditions include Picks disease and Huntington’s disease

2. National End of Life Care Strategy was published by the Department of Health in what year?

Answer: 2008

3.Name some of the Key Policy Messages for end of life care

Answer: Treating service users and those identified as important to them with dignity and respect Involving them both in decisions about treatment and care as much as they want to be Identifying and actively exploring the needs of the dying person, and their families, and ensuring that they are explored, respected and met as far as possible. This includes recording preferences and wishes and creating an individual plan of care which is agreed, coordinated and delivered with compassion Alleviating pain and other symptoms

4. According to the Alzheimer’s Society (2015) it is estimated that there are currently _____people with Dementia (including Huntingdon’s disease) living in the UK. Of this number there are over ____ people with early-onset Dementia (onset before the age of ____ years). This is expected to increase to over _____ by 2025 and over ___by 2051.

Answer: According to the Alzheimer’s Society (2015) it is estimated that there are currently 850,000 people with Dementia (including Huntingdon’s disease) living in the UK. Of this number there are over 40,000 people with early-onset Dementia (onset before the age of 65 years). This is expected to increase to over 1 million by 2025 and over 2 million by 2051.

5. Palliative care is an approach that _____ of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the _____of suffering by means of early _____ and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and_____.

Answer: Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

6. Which Act provides for people who anticipate a loss of capacity at some future time to draw up an ‘advance decision’ to refuse specified medical treatment in particular future circumstances?

Answer: The Mental Capacity Act (DCA 2007)