Goals of Care Conversations and Subsequent Advance Care Planning Outcomes for People with Dementia

Background: Advance care planning has been shown to improve end of life decision-making for people with dementia. However, the impact of goals of care conversations between people with dementia and their caregivers has not been characterized. Objective: In this study, we evaluate the association between goals of care conversations and advance care planning outcomes. Methods: Retrospective advance care planning measures were collected via a questionnaire administered to 166 caregivers after the death of the person with dementia for whom they provided care. Results: At time of death, the majority of decedents with dementia had advance directives, health care agents, and previous goals of care conversations with their caregiver. Goals of care conversations were significantly associated with the perceived usefulness of advance directives, the perceived adherence to advance directives, and decedent dying at their desired place of death, but not with disagreements around end-of-life care. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that goals of care conversations are an important component of advance care planning. These findings support the development of interventions that facilitate such conversations between people with dementia and their caregivers.

Automated summary

This study found that people with dementia who had goals of care conversations with their caregivers tended to have advance directives, health care agents, and were more likely to die at their desired place of death. Goals of care conversations were significantly associated with the perceived usefulness of advance directives, adherence to advance directives, and whether decedents were able to achieve their desired place of death.