Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

There is growing interest in advance care planning (ACP) for people with dementia. ACP is defined as a process, yet there is no consensus regarding the components of the process. This study identifies the components of the ACP process for people with dementia in a facility-based setting. We conducted a scoping review. A search of the literature for the years 2007 to 2017 was conducted using several electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochran Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, ICHUSHI). Two independent reviewers checked the search results in both the first and second screenings. Fifteen relevant articles were identified. Eleven ACP process components were extracted and sorted along a time axis. They were then categorized as “main steps” (seven) or “additional steps” (four). The main steps included evaluating the resident’s cognitive capacity, checking the resident’s knowledge and providing information, confirming the resident’s preferences, involving the family and those close to the resident, completing documentation, sharing, and providing the opportunity to review. The additional steps were evaluating the facilitator’s competence, checking the resident’s readiness, being involved with the family in daily care, and linking the resident’s preferences to an appropriate program of care. Eleven steps in the ACP process were identified. Determining the resident’s preferences is an important step but properly following the steps before and after that determination is also essential to the process. Further studies are needed to investigate the effectiveness of the ACP process using these steps.