Palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities

Małgorzata Stróżna; Aleksandra Zagajewska; Olga Błażowska; Katarzyna Stróżna

doi:10.5114/pm.2025.154175

eISSN: 2081-2833
ISSN: 2081-0016

Medycyna Paliatywna/Palliative Medicine

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abstract:

Guidelines/recommendations

Palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities

Małgorzata Stróżna

¹

,

Aleksandra Zagajewska

²

,

Olga Błażowska

²

,

Katarzyna Stróżna

³

Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny nr 2, Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Szczecinie, Szczecin, Polska
Szpital Kliniczny Dzieciątka Jezus, Warszawa, Polska
Klinika Medycyny Paliatywnej, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa, Polska

Medycyna Paliatywna 2025; 17(4)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pm.2025.154175

Online publish date: 2025/09/11

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Adults with intellectual disabilities constitute a patient group with particular needs in palliative care. Due to medical advances and increasing life expectancy in this population, it is increasingly necessary to provide them with support and treatment in advanced stages of disease and at the end of life. Key challenges include empowering patients in the decision-making process, including advance care planning, which has not yet been implemented in the Polish healthcare system, as well as communication difficulties, pain assessment, and misclassification of symptoms. The review findings indicate that palliative care for individuals with intellectual disabilities requires extended consultations, individualized approaches that account for the patient’s level of functioning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Comprehensive strategies are essential to ensure a dignified and comfortable end-of-life experience. Key elements include staff training, adaptation of diagnostic tools, and active involvement of the family in the therapeutic process.

keywords:

Palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities

Małgorzata Stróżna 1 , Aleksandra Zagajewska 2 , Olga Błażowska 2 , Katarzyna Stróżna 3

intellectual disability, palliative care, communication, diagnostic overshadowing

Małgorzata Stróżna

¹

,

Aleksandra Zagajewska

²

,

Olga Błażowska

²

,

Katarzyna Stróżna

³