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Initiation of advance care planning in newly admitted nursing home residents in Flanders, Belgium: A prospective cohort study
Author(s) -
Paque Kristel,
Ivanova Ivana,
Elseviers Monique,
Stichele Robert Vander,
Dilles Tinne,
Pardon Koen,
Deliens Luc,
Christiaens Thierry
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.13576
Subject(s) - medicine , dementia , deprescribing , prospective cohort study , cohort , advance care planning , nursing homes , observational study , cohort study , emergency medicine , analgesic , gerontology , intensive care medicine , nursing , polypharmacy , palliative care , psychiatry , disease
Aim To describe (i) the timing of initiation of advance care planning (ACP) after nursing home admission; (ii) the association of dementia and physical health with ACP initiation; and (iii) if and how analgesic use and use of lipid modifying agents is related to ACP, in a cohort of newly admitted residents. Methods A prospective, observational cohort study of nursing home residents was carried out. Data were collected 3 months, 15 months (year 1) and 27 months (year 2) after admission, using a structured questionnaire and validated measuring tools. Results ACP was never initiated during the 2‐year stay for 38% of the residents, for 22% ACP was initiated at admission, for 21% during year 1 and for 19% during year 2 ( n = 323). ACP initiation was strongly associated with dementia, but not with physical health. Residents without dementia were more likely to have ACP initiation at admission or not at all, whereas ACP initiation was postponed for residents with dementia. Between admission and year 2, analgesic use increased (from 34% to 42%), and the use of lipid‐modifying agents decreased (from 28% to 21%). Analgesic use increased more in residents with ACP initiation during year 1 and year 2. The use of lipid‐modifying agents was not associated with ACP. Conclusions The timing of ACP initiation differed significantly for residents with and without dementia, which highlights the importance of an early onset of ACP before residents lose their decision‐making capacity. ACP conversations might create opportunities to discuss adequate pain and other symptom treatment, and deprescribing at the end of life. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 141–146 .