Nurses' experiences of caring for persons with dementia at the end of life in residential care facilities

Background: Dementia is a major public health concern in Sweden and is associated with cognitive, physical, psychological, and social impairments. At the end of life, increased functional decline places high demands on nursing care in residential settings. Aim: To describe nurses’ experiences of caring for persons with dementia at the end of life in residential care. Method: A general literature review with a qualitative approach was conducted. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed and CINAHL. Ten qualitative studies were included, quality assessed using the SBU checklist, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Two main themes emerged: challenges in palliative care and supportive situations in care. Challenges involved difficulties in symptom management, next of kin as both a resource and a barrier, and organizational constraints including workload and moral distress. Supportive factors included knowledge and education, teamwork, and continuity of care. Conclusion: Education, organizational support, and multiprofessional collaboration are essential to enable person-centred and dignified palliative care for persons with dementia at the end of life. Keywords: Dementia, End of life, Nursing care, Nurses’ experiences, Palliative care