Leah Shepherd
Ohio State University
Arnedia Smith, Best Undergraduate Paper
Paper title: A Scoping Review of Dementia Caregiving Relationships and End-of-Life Care
Older adults living with dementia and their family caregivers are at risk for facing difficult end-of-life decisions. Little is known about the relationship between the older adult and family caregiver as it relates to end-of-life care. The purpose of this scoping review is to examine the relationship between the older adult living with dementia and the family caregiver on end-of-life care. From our review to date, the following themes will be discussed: Significant burden of family caregiving, need for increased caregiver education, understanding of advanced care planning, familial involvement in end-of-life care, and similarities and differences in end-of-life wishes. Family caregivers and the older adults living with dementia face complicated decisions regarding end-of-life while also navigating their changing relationship with their older adult care recipient living with dementia. Future multidisciplinary research should support older adults living with dementia and their family caregivers toward improving healthcare outcomes that will promote better quality-of-life near the end-of-life.