stage: 6

DNACPR and dementia — the decision most families find hard to make and harder to avoid

DNACPR stands for Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. It is a medical instruction that means if the person's heart stops or they stop breathing, the clinical team will not attempt resuscitation. For people with advanced dementia, resuscitation is unlikely to be successful and, if it were, would typically result in the person returning to the same severely diminished state, often with additional injury. A DNACPR is not a decision to withdraw all care — it simply means that CPR will not be attempted. The decision should be made in consultation with the person where possible, their family, and the medical team, and should reflect the person's known wishes and best interests. Many families find the conversation distressing but report afterwards that having a clear decision in place gave them peace of mind. A DNACPR should be reviewed regularly and must be documented and held with the person's records wherever they are being cared for.