Question
What kind of goals should be written for end-of-life care, and what should be included in the documentation?
Answer
In end-of-life care, goals should be centered on the patient's participation in meaningful activities rather than solely focusing on improving impairments or domain-specific aspects. Consider setting goals that involve the patient in decision-making processes, indicating their wants and needs, managing their affairs, and requesting necessary interventions. Additionally, goals related to family connection, socialization, spiritual practices, grief processing, and conducting a life review are crucial. Many patients wish to review their lives, share their stories and have these narratives documented as a testament to a life well lived.
These participation-centered goals can be challenging to achieve, especially if the patient's cognition or communication abilities are impaired. Therefore, documentation should include strategies and interventions that facilitate the patient's ability to engage in these meaningful activities, ensuring their final moments are as fulfilling and complete as possible.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course Effective Treatments for Patients Near the End of Life, presented by Amanda Stead, PhD, CCC-SLP.
