End-of-Life Treatment for Down Syndrome With Dementia

End-of-life treatment for Down syndrome patients with dementia is essentially the same as for people who suffer from Alzheimer's except that there may be additional medical issues that are concurrent with Down syndrome.

Significance

• Families of patients with Down syndrome have watched their loved ones deal with many difficulties. Compassionate, end-of-life treatment is as much for the caretakers' benefit as it is for the patient's.

Goals

• Those who treat or care for Down syndrome patients with dementia seek to provide physical and psychological comfort to their patients and a peaceful, dignified death. In addition, they offer counseling and support in decision making to families.

Types

• End-of-life treatment comes in two forms: palliative and aggressive.

Features

• Palliative care is focused on keeping the patient comfortable with mitigating treatment options considered as needed. Aggressive treatment seeks to extend life through the use of hospitalization, feeding tubes, and other life-supporting measures.

Considerations

• The wishes of patients and their families are primary. At what point to draw the line in treatment is a matter that needs to be decided upon as soon as possible after the diagnosis of dementia.