Disease-Specific Advance Care Planning Interventions for Older Adults

Purpose of Review: Advance care planning is beneficial but underutilized for older patients with dementia, cancer, end-stage renal disease, lung disease, or heart failure. The purpose of this paper is to highlight recent disease-specific innovations aimed at improving the delivery of advance care planning for older adults. Recent Findings: We highlight 13 studies within the last 5 years focusing on advance care planning models in older adults with the above diseases. Summary: Useful interventions include incorporation of non-physician facilitators, varying platforms of ACP delivery, surrogate participation, and written communication of patient preferences to other providers. Several existing models were applicable across disease types. Further research comparing advance care planning models in older adults is warranted.