title: Decision-making ability and advance directive preferences in nursing home patients and proxies.
abstract: We studied 39 nursing home patients and proxies to assess their decision-making capability and preferences regarding advance directives (ADs) or "living wills." Most patients willingly stated preferences; over half opted to forego burdensome measures when death appeared imminent. Patients perceived as decisionally capable were more likely to forego life-sustaining measures than those of questionable capability. The vast majority of proxies disapproved of using life-sustaining measures, even in some cases with limited knowledge of patients' preferences.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jernigan
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: McKeown
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D032921:Consensus; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D012297:Right to Die