Dementia presents unique challenges for both patients and caregivers, particularly when it comes to palliative care. As cognitive decline progresses, individuals with dementia may experience a range of symptoms that require specialized attention, including pain management, emotional support, and assistance with daily activities.

The significance of advancing palliative care for individuals with dementia lies in the potential to enhance their overall well-being during the later stages of life. Recent research has highlighted the importance of person-centered approaches that respect the dignity and preferences of dementia patients. Furthermore, innovations in communication techniques, interdisciplinary care models, and caregiver training programs have shown promise in alleviating distress and improving patient outcomes. However, ongoing research is needed to identify best practices, assess the efficacy of various interventions, and develop comprehensive care frameworks that are sensitive to the nuances of dementia. Moreover, an increased focus on training healthcare professionals in dementia-specific palliative care practices may enhance the overall quality of care and support for this vulnerable population.

This Collection aims to showcase research on palliative care in people with dementia. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Integrating technology in palliative care for dementia

Person-centered approaches in dementia care

Symptoms management strategies for dementia patients

Interdisciplinary models of care for dementia

Supporting caregivers in palliative care

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

Neonatal-perinatal palliative care is a specialized interdisciplinary approach focusing on the quality of life for newborns and families facing life-limiting, life-threatening, or concerning neonatal diagnoses. Care and support is provided and continued irrespective of the treatment options and goals of care. This field recognizes that complex medical conditions are often associated with uncertain prognoses and emphasizes care that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of both neonates and their families.

This Collection aims to explore various dimensions of neonatal-perinatal palliative care, including clinical practices, ethical considerations, and family support. Many newborns are diagnosed with complex conditions that require focusing on value driven medical care that may include attention to invasive medical interventions, comfort care, or some degrees of medical interventions. These goals often evolve and shift over time. An important component of this total care is often end of life care with a focus on bonding, memory-making and symptom relief. While perinatal and neonatal palliative care programs are widely available, there is a pressing need for standardized guidelines and quality measures to ensure consistent and effective care. Advancing our collective understanding is key to improving the quality of life for both infants and their families during challenging times.

With this in mind, BMC Palliative Care is opening this Collection on Neonatal-perinatal palliative care. Areas of focus include:

• Best practices in neonatal palliative care

• Birth planning in cases of uncertain or life limiting fetal diagnoses

• Family-centered approaches in end-of-life neonatal care

• Standardized care guidelines and polices for perinatal bereavement and palliative care

• Ethical considerations in neonatal palliative care

• Training healthcare professionals in the paradigms of palliative care

• Neonatal-perinatal palliative care education and program development

• The involvement of palliative care in fetal care centers

• The impact of the medico-legal landscape (abortion, personhood, born-alive protections) on neonatal-perinatal palliative care

• Disparities in neonatal-perinatal palliative care

• Religious and cultural considerations in neonatal-perinatal palliative care

• Neonatal organ donation and autopsies

• Advances symptom management in neonates

• Outcomes and care of medically complex neonatal diagnoses with a multidisciplinary perspective