Promoting Informed Decision Making Through Advance Care Planning

Promoting Informed Decision Making and Effective Communication Through Advance Care Planning for People With Dementia and Their Family Carers

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the application of a best-practice Advance Care Planning (ACP) model for individuals living with dementia in a sample of nursing homes in Northern Ireland

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Family Caregivers

   • Family caregivers of a resident who does not have decision making capacity to participate in ACP discussion
   • Individuals identified by the nursing home manager as the family member who possess power of attorney for personal care and/or viewed by the nursing home staff as most involved in the care of the resident who does not have decision making capacity.

2. Health Care Professionals

Nursing home managers, registered nursing staff and GPs who:

• are employed, or in the case of GPs, care for residents, in the six nursing homes that were part of the intervention group
• were familiar with the intervention to discuss its strengths and weaknesses in an interview
• are able to speak English as they are required to participate in interviews.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Family caregivers and health care professionals who are unable to communicate through written and spoken English.
• Family caregivers who has a family resident considered to have the ability to participate in ACP discussions.