Management of Patients with Late-Stage Dementia: A Caring Hand

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]

Guest: Mairead M. Bartley, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.

Dementia is a devastating health condition for patients, their families, and a challenging disease for primary care providers. Whereas the diagnosis is usually straightforward to establish, the pharmacologic treatment options have been, at best, disappointing. With little to nothing to offer our patients which would improve their cognitive status; our responsibility for their management doesn’t end there. We still have a responsibility to provide ongoing care to these patients as well as their caregivers as they progress into the later stages of dementia. This brings up numerous management challenges including maintaining our patient’s independence, as well as numerous safety and nutrition issues. This podcast will review the management of the patient with later stage dementia with our guest is Mairead M. Bartley, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., a geriatrician and internist in the Division of Community Medicine at the Mayo Clinic.

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