Promoting Informed Decision Making Through Advance Care Planning
Dementia, Neurodegenerative Diseases
About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Dementia focused on measuring Dementia, Decision-making, Communication, Advance Care Planning
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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.
- 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.
Sites / Locations
- Four Seasons Health Care -- Nursing Homes
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Intervention
Usual care
The intervention will include five key elements: a Project Nurse - ACP facilitator; family education on comfort care at the end of life for individuals with dementia using the 'Comfort Care at the end of life for persons with dementia' booklet; a family meeting with follow-up telephone call; documentation of ACP decisions, and orientation and education directed towards General Practitioners (GPs) and nursing home staff about the intervention.
Care will continue as usual for the nursing home residents