Eliciting Goals of Care in a Nursing Home

A major finding of these interviews is the lack of systematic attention to GOC in the nursing home setting. Since education and experience were identified as crucial to understanding GOC, more formal education and observed practice discussing GOC is needed for all staff. The outcomes of GOC discussions should be documented in the patient record and be accessible to all staff and communicated systematically to all staff. Addressing these barriers and facilitating these enablers to the GOC discussion will improve the care of nursing home patients.