Higher Prevalence of Dementia but No Change in Total Comfort While Dying among Nursing Home Residents with Dementia between 2010 and 2015: Results from Two Retrospective Epidemiological Studies

Important policy developments in dementia and palliative care nursing homes between 2010 2015 Flanders, Belgium might have influenced which people die how they die. We aimed to examine differences the prevalence characteristics of residents with their service use comfort last week life. used two retrospective epidemiological studies, including 198 183 2015, who died representative samples Flanders. found a 15%-point increase (p-value < 0.01), total 11%-point decrease severe very cognitive impairment (p = 0.04). Controlling for residents’ characteristics, life, there was an pain assessment (+20%-point; p 0.03) but no change comfort. The higher while dying emphasizes urgent need better support improving capacities provide timely high-quality services more dementia.