Patient selection: nonverbal dementia in palliative care
Parameters:
(1) vocalization (whimpering, groaning, crying)
(2) facial expression (looking tense, frowning, grimacing, looking frightened)
(3) change in body language (fidgeting, rocking, guarding, withdrawn)
(4) behavioural change (increased confusion, refusing to eat, change in usual patterns)
(5) physiological change (temperature, pulse, blood pressure, perspiring, flushing, pallor)
(6) physical change (skin tears, pressure areas, contractures, etc)
|
Parameter
|
Finding
|
Points
|
|
vocalization
|
absent
|
0
|
|
|
mild
|
1
|
|
|
moderate
|
2
|
|
|
severe
|
3
|
|
facial expression
|
absent
|
0
|
|
|
mild
|
1
|
|
|
moderate
|
2
|
|
|
severe
|
3
|
|
change in body language
|
absent
|
0
|
|
|
mild
|
1
|
|
|
moderate
|
2
|
|
|
severe
|
3
|
|
behavioural change
|
absent
|
0
|
|
|
mild
|
1
|
|
|
moderate
|
2
|
|
|
severe
|
3
|
|
physiological change
|
absent
|
0
|
|
|
mild
|
1
|
|
|
moderate
|
2
|
|
|
severe
|
3
|
|
physical changes
|
absent
|
0
|
|
|
mild
|
1
|
|
|
moderate
|
2
|
|
|
severe
|
3
|
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 18
|
Score
|
Pain
|
|
0 or 2
|
none
|
|
3 to 7
|
mild
|
|
8 to 13
|
moderate
|
|
14 to 18
|
severe
|
