Advance care planning for people living with dementia

The prevalence of dementia is increasing, however it is only recently that dementia has been recognised as a terminal disease where end-of-life care needs to be discussed and planned with the patient and their family. Early diagnosis of dementia enables the person with dementia and their family to discuss the future, including plans for end-of-life care such as Advance Care Planning (ACP). However, discussions regarding end-of-life care are not routine practice for people with dementia and their families. This article reviews the literature regarding barriers that impact on healthcare professionals' engagement with ACP for people with dementia and their families.