Karolina Pechova, Martin Loucka
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to introduce advance care planning as a process and set of techniques for providing adequate palliative care to the residents of residential social care facilities for the elderly. THEORETICAL BASE: Available evidence and experience from practice show the importance of advance care planning if the wishes of people about the place of their death are to be fulfilled. Residential social care facilities for the elderly can be the place of choice of those people. Comprehensive insight into the issue is currently missing in domestic conditions. METHODS: We answered the questions raised by an integrative literature review and by a reflection of experiences of social service providers in the Czech Republic. OUTCOMES: Practical insight into advance care planning is the outcome of this article. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: The article can help the management of residential social care facilities for the elderly in advance care planning implementation. Therefore, it gives space for improvement in the process of individual care planning at the end of life. The article can also serve as support for social workers (as well as for other professionals) who are participating or coordinating the process of advance care planning in care homes.
Keywords
advance care planning, end of life, residential social care facilities for the elderly, palliative care coordinator, palliative care
Issue
p. 112 – 126