"By the time she got sick it was just kind of too late": A qualitative study on advanced care planning among bereaved lesbian, gay, and bisexual older women

December 21, 2021

Authors

  • Korijna G Valenti
  • Leah M Janssen
  • Susan Enguidanos
  • Kate de Medeiros

This study explores the experiences of bereaved lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older women to understand perspectives regarding advance care planning communication between clinicians, patients, and dyads. Four main themes emerged from the transcripts, LGB older women: (1) experience unclear advance care planning communication and end-of-life care support from clinicians, (2) often avoid advance care planning discussions with spouse or partners, (3) lack of knowledge about palliative or end-of-life care, and (4) have more positive experiences when there is consistent communication with spouse or partner and clinicians during a spouse/partner’s illness and end-of-life.

Palliative Medicine, doi:10.1177/02692163211065279

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Topics

  • Caregiving/Families
  • End-of-Life Ethics
  • Long-Term Care Decision Making
  • Long-Term Care - Other