advance care planning and advance healthcare directives with a person with dementia

Authors: Deirdre Shanagher, Marie Lynch, John Weafer, Patricia Rickard-Clarke, Esther Beck, Dr Sharon Beatty, Emer Begley, Prof Willie Molloy, Dr Geraldine Mc Carthy, Sarah Murphy

Aim & Objectives

April 2016

Results:

For further details contact deirdre.shanagher@hospicefoundation.ie or www.hospicefoundation.ie

To develop a guidance document

that will help people understand

advance care planning and

advance healthcare directives

within an Irish context.

Advance care planning is regarded as a feature of good clinical care in Ireland. The Assisted Decision Making

(Capacity) Act 2015 includes a legislative scheme for advance healthcare directives. Many health and social care

professionals are unclear about their roles and responsibilities with regard to advance care planning and advance

healthcare directives.

1. Expert Advisory Group

Convened

2. Literature Review

completed

3. Key themes collated to inform key

considerations and guidance

4. Draft document

prepared for consultation

5. Document finalised and consultation

report prepared

Introduction:

Methods:

4 Key Considerations to Inform

Good Practice:

1. Develop understanding of

dementia

2. Recognise that under human rights

legislation EVERYONE has the

right to make their own decisions

3. Develop understanding of advance

care planning

4. Become familiar with aspects of

the Assisted Decision Making

(Capacity) Act 2015, specifically in

relation to:

• The functional approach to

decision making capacity

• Advance healthcare directives

Guidance For Health & Social Care

Professionals Provided on:

1. Presuming decision making

capacity

2. Maximising decision making

capacity

3. Assessing decision making

capacity

4. Making decisions if decision

making capacity is an issue