Abstract
P-32 Helping families approach medical decisions through clarifying goals of care
BMJ supportive & palliative care, Vol.5(Suppl 2), pp.A53-A53
09/2015
DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-000978.162
Abstract
BackgroundWorldwide more people are living long enough to die in old age. This trend brings challenges associated with dying in the context of multiple advanced chronic illnesses. In the USA, some frail elders live in nursing homes (NH). While paid staff are available, many family members remain involved in the elder’s daily life.AimDescribe a conceptual model of how family members arrive at the main goal of care for elders and state obstacles to arriving at and communicating the goal.MethodsQualitative data from family of 54 NH residents in the USA were collected over 6 months. Content analysis helped to identify patterns in the data.ResultsFamilies weigh four factors when approaching medical decisions: the elder’s medical status/prognosis, available options, the elder’s preferences, and their own expectations of what a “good” daughter or spouse would do. This latter factor is seldom reported in the literature and yet can be powerful, especially if information about the other factors is lacking.DiscussionHealth professionals can increase their skill in engaging family members and elders in important conversations about goals of care. The family needs information from the health professional, who will need information from the elder and family in order for everyone to understand and accept the goals of care.ConclusionMany families are bewildered when facing medical decisions. Information and emotional support can assist them in understanding options in the context of resident preferences, goals of care, and their own sense of how a “good” family behaves.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- P-32 Helping families approach medical decisions through clarifying goals of care
- Creators
- Mercedes Bern-Klug - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- BMJ supportive & palliative care, Vol.5(Suppl 2), pp.A53-A53
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-000978.162
- ISSN
- 2045-435X
- eISSN
- 2045-4368
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/2015
- Academic Unit
- International Programs; Social Work
- Record Identifier
- 9984307139502771
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