The center of the hospice belief is that patients should be allowed the right to die pain-free and with dignity; however, both hospice and palliative care are underutilized, especially for patients with dementia. Dementia is a progressive, irreversible clinical syndrome, which has increasing prevalence and complex needs. It is characterized by widespread impairment of mental function that may include memory loss, agitation, personality change, difficulties with activities of daily living, self-neglect, and psychiatric syndromes. Dementia typically follows a disease course of prolonged and progressive disability. Behaviors are often hard to treat due to the complexity of dementia's medical conditions, and dementia patients are less likely to be referred to hospice and palliative care. Instead, HCPs tend to treat these conditions in a reactive manner, responding to acute problems such as pneumonia, dehydration, or behavioral symptoms. Patients referred to hospice or palliative care are likely to experience better pain control, improved symptom management, and are less likely to die in a hospital. Their families also have greater satisfaction with end-of-life care. This activity will review the challenges confronting HCPs when caring for patients with dementia and will explore how to improve patients' and families' quality of life with timely referral to palliative and hospice care.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to

1. Identify the challenges faced by HCPs when managing dementia patients
2. Recognize the impact of palliative care in helping dementia patients achieve the best possible quality of life with an effective pain and symptom management program
3. Explain how hospice care can help dementia patients and provide their families greater satisfaction with end-of-life care

Presenter
Zaldy S. Tan, MD, MPH
Medical Director
UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program
Associate Professor
David Geffen School of Medicine
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California

About the Presenter
Dr Tan's research has received national and international coverage, and he speaks regularly on Alzheimer's disease and memory improvement techniques.

Disclosures of Relevant Financial Relationships
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support^SM, OptumHealth Education requires all those involved in the development of activity content to disclose their relevant financial relationships. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if such person (or their spouse/partner) has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the activity content over which the individual has control.
OptumHealth Education ensures that the content is independent of commercial bias.

Presenter Disclosure
Zaldy S. Tan, MD, MPH has indicated that he has no relevant financial relationships.

Activity Planners
Sarah Chart-Hart, RN
Senior Director
OptumHealth Education

Rebecca Gleason, RN, CCM
Activity Manager
OptumHealth Education

Activity Planner Disclosures
All of the planners reported that they are employees of and own stock in UnitedHealth Group.

Reviewer Disclosures
To ensure fair balance and avoid bias, the content for this activity has been reviewed by an independent medical expert with no relevant financial relationships.

Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in or receiving credit for this activity.
For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.

Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the activity, which includes the following:

• Completing the entire activity
• Completing the Pre- and Post-Activity Assessments, Activity Evaluation, and Application for Certificate of Credit forms

You must be logged into your account to participate in this activity. Get started by clicking “Begin” and viewing the “CE Info”; then follow the prompts at the bottom of the screen. At the end of the activity, you will be able to view, save, or print your certificate of participation. The Area of Practice you indicated in your profile corresponds with your certificate type. A complete listing of all of your activities can be found under “My Account”, “My Activities.”

Method for Calculating CE Credit
CE credit was calculated by the complexity of content.

Accreditation Statement
OptumHealth Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Designation Statements
Physicians
OptumHealth Education designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Nurses
The participant will be awarded up to 1.00 contact hour(s) of credit for attendance and completion of supplemental materials.

Nurse Practitioners
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.

Case Managers
The Commission for Case Manager Certification has approved this program for a maximum of 1.00 clock hour(s) for Certified Case Managers (CCM).

Social Workers
R. Cassidy Seminars, ACE provider #1082 is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the ASWB, through the ACE Program. Approval: April 15, 2015-April 15, 2018. R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for the program. Social workers should contact their board to determine course approval. Social workers will receive 1.00 continuing education (clinical) clock hours in participating in this course.

NJ: This course is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards - ASWB NJ CE Course Approval Program Provider #31 Course #466 from 08/12/2015 to 08/12/2017. Social workers will receive the following type and number of credit(s): General Social Work Practice 1

NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0006.  Workshop Title: Hospice and Palliative Care for Patients With Dementia (Zaldy S. Tan, MD, MPH) 1 contact hour.

OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for (1.00) clock hours, #RCST110701

Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be provided to learners upon completion of activity requirements, enabling participants to register with licensing boards or associations that have not been pre-approved for credits. To apply for credit types not listed above, participants should use the procedure established by the specific organization to which you wish you apply credit.

Provided By
This activity is provided by OptumHealth Education.

Commercial Support
This activity is supported by Optum^™ Palliative and Hospice Care.

Hardware/Software Requirements
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