ABSTRACT
Aging and terminally ill individuals in U.S. prisons are increasing, making critical the need for appropriate end-of-life (EOL) care and advance care planning (ACP). Applying Bandura's agentic perspective, the authors examined 20 aging/dying offenders' EOL preferences and ACP. Findings include 6 themes: decisions in the shadow of the past, what works best for me, feeling blessed, what is really going on, can anyone be trusted, and turning agency over to someone else. This study provides critical information that will assist professionals who work with dying offenders, as it presents a vivid illustration of their dying process.
Subject(s)
Advance Care Planning , Criminals/psychology , Decision Making , Hospice Care , Prisoners/psychology , Terminal Care , Adult , Aged , Humans , Middle Aged , Personal AutonomyABSTRACT
Advance care planning is considered a best practice within health care. However, the extent to which planning occurs within prison settings is unknown. Through the course of implementing an advance care planning (ACP) program for aging and dying offenders at a medical classification center, multiple barriers were identified that need to be addressed systemically to ensure the medical wishes of offenders were known and honored. This article will outline the barriers and the steps that were taken to create systems change to promote and sustain advance care planning.