Components of the Advance Care Planning Process in the Nursing Home Setting

The purposes of this study were to describe the advance care planning process for nursing home residents and identify common concerns regarding advance care planning. We conducted a content analysis of video-conferenced advance care planning meetings in the nursing home. Fourteen nursing home residents and 10 family members were included in the analysis. Themes based on the participants' statements during the meetings were used to generate the Advance Care Planning Process Framework. The Advance Care Planning Process Framework has 3 primary phases: (1) assess resident's status regarding end-of-life care, which includes establishing common language; identifying resident's unrealistic goals and wishes; and identifying inconsistencies between resident's expressed wishes and the preferences documented in medical record; (2) negotiate realistic plan of care, which includes addressing inconsistencies between resident's and family's goals; rephrasing goals and wishes in hypothetical scenarios; and clarifying goals; and (3) create action plan, which includes complete advance directives and revisit/revise in the future as needed. Most of the consultations resulted in action plans to facilitate concordance between resident wishes and medical records. Advance care planning with palliative care specialists provided a valuable opportunity for nursing home residents and families to discuss advance directives and provided valuable clarification of their goals of care.