title: Talking to the older adult about advance directives.
abstract: Discussing advance care plans with elderly patients can improve the experience of end-of-life care for patients, families, and health care teams. Specific goals for any particular discussion should be based on patients' particular clinical circumstances. Physicians should focus on patients' overall values and goals and should provide emotional support during the discussion. Decisions made during the advance care planning process should be documented.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tulsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018447:Medical Futility; D016743:Mental Competency; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010934:Planning Techniques; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*