Characteristics of Successful End of Life Care Planning
Health Canada’s Advance Care Planning: the Glossary Project Final Report 57 endorses a number of characteristics of successful end of life care planning:
- Systems exist that ensure all members of the health care team are aware of a patient's advance directive throughout the continuum of care.
- Effective, ongoing communication between the patient and family; between the patient/family and the health care team; and among the members of the health care team.
- Dialogue about advance care planning among the legal sector (including those who develop legislation), policy makers, health care providers and consumers so that legislation, law and policy can be both legally and medically sound and socially responsive.
- Planning that begins well in advance of serious illness.
- User-friendly education, tools and resources are needed by professionals in all sectors and by consumers.
- Advance directive guidelines could be created for specific health or disease conditions.
- A clear understanding of the core concept of informed consent to treatment which underlies advance directives.
Our research is investigating how effective existing mechanisms are for vulnerable populations and people with disabilities. In particular we are investigating what systems that ensure good communication, knowledge, education and planning can be would look and feel like for vulnerable people.
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