Timing of Goals of Care Discussions in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review

Discussions between health professionals and nursing home (NH) residents or their families about the current or future goals of health care may be associated with better outcomes at the end of life (EOL), such as avoidance of unwanted interventions or death in hospital. The timing of these discussions varies, and it is possible that their influence on EOL outcomes depends on their timing. This study synthesized current evidence concerning the timing of goals of care (GOC) discussions in NHs and its impact on EOL outcomes.