As the number of people living with Dementia increases around the country, researchers are taking a deeper-dive into this dynamic, progressive disease. A recent study conducted in Ontario, Canada found that patients with a confirmed diagnosis in the early stages have approximately five years before they require a care home and/or succumb to the disease. Of course, a number of factors play into this statistic including pre-existing health conditions, lifestyle and the type of Dementia diagnosed. Some forms of Dementia have longer life expectancy and as such, can be diagnosed and the patient can live for up to 20 years!
For those providing care for someone living with Dementia, it is important to understand the likely disease trajectory (based on the diagnosis or type of Dementia) and assist in ensuring appropriate documents defining the patient’s wishes for care are in place. This will ensure that as the disease progresses, and they have no “voice”, their wishes will be known and respected.
As our loved ones near end of life, the healthcare industry is prepared to help the family adjust and accept death by way of palliative care. Unfortunately, those living with Dementia are less likely to receive palliative care than those with other diseases which can lead to families being unprepared for the death.
The death rate in this study revealed that 55.1% of those living with Dementia died within five years and 48.4% were admitted to a long-term care facility, only 24.4% of the focus group were both alive and living in the community.
As the number of people living with Dementia increases around the country, researchers are taking a deeper-dive into this dynamic, progressive disease. A recent study conducted in Ontario, Canada found that patients with a confirmed diagnosis in the early stages have approximately five years before they require a care home and/or succumb to the disease. Of course, a number of factors play into this statistic including pre-existing health conditions, lifestyle and the type of Dementia diagnosed. Some forms of Dementia have longer life expectancy and as such, can be diagnosed and the patient can live for up to 20 years!
For those providing care for someone living with Dementia, it is important to understand the likely disease trajectory (based on the diagnosis or type of Dementia) and assist in ensuring appropriate documents defining the patient’s wishes for care are in place. This will ensure that as the disease progresses, and they have no “voice”, their wishes will be known and respected.
As our loved ones near end of life, the healthcare industry is prepared to help the family adjust and accept death by way of palliative care. Unfortunately, those living with Dementia are less likely to receive palliative care than those with other diseases which can lead to families being unprepared for the death.
The death rate in this study revealed that 55.1% of those living with Dementia died within five years and 48.4% were admitted to a long-term care facility, only 24.4% of the focus group were both alive and living in the community.
Five-year risk of admission to long-term care home
Gregory Huyer, Catherine R.L. Brown, Sarah Spruin, Amy T. Hsu, Stacey Fisher, Douglas G. Manuel, Susan E. Bronskill, Danial Qureshi and Peter Tanuseputro
CMAJ April 20, 2020 192 (16) E422-E430; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.190999
