What we know
Communication between a person receiving palliative care, their family, and health professionals is at the core of a positive end-of-life experience. Older adults would like the opportunity to discuss their end-of-life needs and often value frank conversations with health care professionals. The timing, content, pace and setting of conversations are important in helping people deal with difficult issues at or near end-of-life. Many older adults may wait for health professionals to raise the topic of end-of-life discussion and often it is not clear which health professional should lead end-of-life discussions.