Challenge. Caring for the increasing numbers of people across Europe with advanced dementia and palliative care needs who live in care homes is difficult and demanding. People with advanced dementia can be immobile, non-verbal and unable to take part in day-to-day activities. They can be unsettled or agitated, with low quality-of-life and elevated levels of discomfort. Family members can find it difficult to connect meaningfully with their relative and are anxious about the future.

Lewy body dementias (LBD, including Parkinson's dementia and Lewy body dementia) accounts for >20% of the nearly 65,000 people with dementia in Ireland. LBD is ‘the most common form of dementia no-one has heard about’. Fewer than 5% of those affected receive a formal diagnosis. LBD is characterised by cognitive-behavioural and physical changes which significantly impact quality of life and care burden. Knowledge, awareness and support in Ireland for LBD is minimal.