End-of-life care for patients with intellectual disabilities
End-of-life care for patients with intellectual disabilities
The provision of end-of-life care for people with intellectual disabilities is becoming an issue of increasing concern. This is an ageing population. Comprehensive and up-to-date morbidity and mortality data are lacking, mostly due to methodological problems (including the lack of a data base of people with intellectual disabilities in many countries). However, it is evident that with increased longevity among those with intellectual disabilities there is also a rising incidence of life-limiting illnesses such as cancer or dementia. How are the end-of-life care needs of this group being met? Are they able to access appropriate palliative care services when they need it? This chapter focuses on the challenge facing those with intellectual disabilities in achieving equal access to palliative or end-of-life care services.
Keywords: disabled patients, palliative care services, access to care, intellectually disabled
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