Compassionate, evidence-based care for patients with HIV/AIDS at the end of life

Abstract

His medical history includes hypertension, dementia stage I, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and HIV, diagnosed 35 years ago. His terminal diagnosis is protein-calorie malnutrition; he's had a significant appetite reduction in the past 3 months and a 10% weight loss in the past 2.5 months. Upon the nurse's assessment, Mr. L is alert and oriented to person, place, and time but dependent in all activities of daily living (ADLs) including eating, dressing, bathing, and ambulation. The nurse notes that his Functional Assessment Staging Tool (which helps determine functional impairment due to dementia) score was