title: The positive attitudes and perceptions of care managers about advance directives.
abstract: In a previous intervention, we found that reminders from care managers failed to increase the number of their homebound older adult clients with advance directives. Thus, in the current study, we looked at the perceptions and attitudes of care managers about the need to discuss advance directives with their clients. Ninety-five care managers serving community-based nursing home-eligible older adults completed an 18-question survey, which found that care managers overwhelmingly believe it is important to address advance directives. Only 3.2% reported that discussing advance directives is time consuming. No attitudinal barriers were identified. Given their positive attitudes about advance directives, care managers need educational interventions that will provide the knowledge and skills to interact effectively with clients who are resistant to addressing end-of-life issues.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center and Research Service, Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida, USA. adam.golden@va.gov
authors.forename: Adam G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.forename: Sweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tewary
authors.forename: Syeda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qadri
authors.forename: Khin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zaw
authors.forename: Jorge G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Roos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D006278:Medicare; D008875:Middle Aged; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010465:Perception; D014481:United States