Change in end-of-life care and staff thinking at a geriatric health services facility after the introduction of the "My Wishes" notebook

Abstract

Aim: A geriatric health services facility had been working to improve end-of-life care since 2014. In 2017, the facility introduced the My Wishes notebook, which confirms individual's medical choices and distributed the Explaining Practices and Intentions of End-of-life Care book in 2018, in order to help their staff improve care for older adults. Care staff used their learning in caregiving for older adults. This study aimed to clarify the change in end-of-life care and staff thinking at a geriatric health services facility after the introduction of the My Wishes notebook.

Methods: We requested cooperation from all care staff at a geriatric health services facility, and focus group interviews were conducted with 13 staff members over two days in June 2019. The responses in relation to two parameters, the staff members' thoughts and the change in end-of-life care, following the introduction of My Wishes were recorded and qualitatively analyzed.

Results: Six categories of responses were extracted from the qualitative analysis: "Difficulty in using My Wishes", "Effects of the use of My Wishes ", "The practice of sought care", "Intentional involvement with patients' families", "Self-confidence in end-of-life care", and "End-of-life care becoming common practice".

Conclusion: After the introduction of My Wishes, the care staff found that there were difficulties in using My Wishes, such as writing on paper and difficulties in them hearing. On the other hand, they felt the effects of using My Wishes, such as knowing a new side, feeling further possibilities of care, and activating communication among interdisciplinary healthcare providers. Then, while intentionally engaging with patients' families, they will seek and practice the care that the older adults want. Furthermore, while repeatedly searching for and practicing the care that older adults want, they will gain confidence in providing care and change to normalize these care practices.