[Resuscitation Decision in Geriatric Patients: Different Views and Possible Decision-Making Aids]

Resuscitation Decision in Geriatric Patients: Different Views and Possible Decision-Making Aids Abstract. The decision to resuscitate in hospitalized elderly multimorbid patients can be difficult and challenging, since there are no generally accepted guidelines or reliable medical parameters. This study illustrates that relevant differences exist between physicians and caregivers in the decision to resuscitate. From the point of view of physicans, caregivers and relatives resuscitation should be avoided in cases of severely restricted cognition, mobility and independence. Only 8 % of the patients have a living will and 17 % can no longer make a decision at the end of life. ACP is an important tool in the care of multimorbid geriatric patients and their relatives and can optimize the decision to resuscitate as well as the mode of dying.