Barriers Associated with the Implementation of an Advance Care Planning Program in a Prison Setting

Abstract

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.

KEYWORDS:

• advance care planning
• aging individuals
• end-of-life care
• offenders
• prisons