BACKGROUND: Initiating advance care planning (ACP) discussions in the home may prevent avoidable hospitalizations by elucidating goals of care. Area agencies on aging care managers (AAACMs) work in the home with high-risk consumers. PURPOSE: To determine which AAACM characteristics contribute to an increased frequency of ACP discussions. METHOD: Cross-sectional investigator-generated surveys administered to AAACMs at 3 AAAs in Ohio. RESULTS: Of 289 AAACMs, 182 (63%) responded. The more experience and comfort AAACMs felt with ACP discussions, the more likely they were to initiate ACP discussions. DISCUSSION: It may be necessary to build interactive educational experiences where, for example, AAACMs are asked to fill out their own advance directives and/or facilitate others in ACP discussions to improve experience and comfort with ACP discussions.
BACKGROUND: Initiating advance care planning (ACP) discussions in the home may prevent avoidable hospitalizations by elucidating goals of care. Area agencies on aging care managers (AAACMs) work in the home with high-risk consumers. PURPOSE: To determine which AAACM characteristics contribute to an increased frequency of ACP discussions. METHOD: Cross-sectional investigator-generated surveys administered to AAACMs at 3 AAAs in Ohio. RESULTS: Of 289 AAACMs, 182 (63%) responded. The more experience and comfort AAACMs felt with ACP discussions, the more likely they were to initiate ACP discussions. DISCUSSION: It may be necessary to build interactive educational experiences where, for example, AAACMs are asked to fill out their own advance directives and/or facilitate others in ACP discussions to improve experience and comfort with ACP discussions.
Keywords:
advance care planning discussions; area agency on aging; avoidable hospitalizations; care manager attitudes; care manager characteristics; survey