- Identify pre-existing dementia in patients as soon as possible and document it in patient records.
- Involve caregivers and support their emotional, financial and other needs.
- Review decision-making capacity and legal decision-making powers as well as verify advance medical directives.
- Consider and make reasonable adjustments to cancer-related care and treatment.
- Minimize the risk of poorly controlled pain and other symptoms and side effects including dementia decline.
- Reduce the risk of emergency presentation for medical care.
- Increase dementia knowledge and training among cancer clinicians.
- Provide information and communicate in dementia-friendly ways:
- Use simple language, pictures and recap.
- Supply take-away summaries.
- Give warm, empathetic, non-verbal communication.
- Communicate directly with other involved clinicians and keep them updated.
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