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Achievements and challenges during the development of an advance care planning program
Author(s) -
Goodwin Jane,
Shand Brett,
Wiseman Rachel,
Brough Natalie,
McGeoch Graham,
Hamilton Greg,
Grundy Kate
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12945
Subject(s) - accreditation , plan (archaeology) , ethnic group , nursing , health care , socioeconomic status , audit , continuity of care , medicine , medical education , business , political science , environmental health , geography , population , archaeology , accounting , law
A nationwide program to promote preparation of advance care plans (AC Plans) was introduced in Canterbury, New Zealand, in 2013. The program was developed by local facilitators who provided support and organised education seminars and an accredited training program for health‐care professionals. Information and templates for an AC Plan were available to these professionals and the community on local health‐care websites and secure online systems designed to allow plans to be viewed across all health‐care sectors. The number of AC Plans prepared has increased steadily, although people in minority ethnic populations or in the most deprived socioeconomic quintile are less likely to have a plan. While nurses have become the predominant group guiding people through the process of preparing an AC Plan, the involvement of staff in residential care homes has remained low. Local audit showed that 82% of people with an AC Plan died in a community setting, frequently their preferred place of death.