[Quality of life in people with dementia: review of self-assessment specific scales]

The aim of this paper is to review specific measures of Quality of Life (QoL) for dementia, in particular, those scales that can be self-reported by the person with dementia. Data from qualitative studies including persons with dementia, caregivers and professionals has allowed the construction of scales, mainly in the US and England. These scales share common domains related to activities of daily living, psychological aspects and social relations. These scales are being adapted and translated into other languages. This review, compared to previous ones, updates recent validations of these scales into Spanish. Assessment of QoL in persons with dementia contributes to reduce stigma, considers the subject as a person, and introduces a humanistic element on the health and social systems.