The Living Values and Choices Care Planning Process©

This proprietary Living Values and Choices Care Planning Process was created with approaches from clinical research and evidence based practices. It is also informed by years of experience working with hundreds of older adults and their partners, families, and care providers.

     Researchers at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and Penn State University developed a care planning facilitation process called SHARE (Supporting Health, Activities, Resources and Education) to help family caregivers and people with early-stage dementia to prepare for changes that lie ahead.  Their seven-session program addressed stress risk factors by improving communication between the care partners, building skills and resources and enhancing feelings of self-efficacy. 

   Clinical trials showed this process increased both care partners’ knowledge of dementia, improved communication skills and support between partners, and increased understanding of each person’s care values and preferences.

   In February 2016 at a local Alzheimer’s Association seminar, Dr Carol J. Whitlatch PhD, a lead researcher behind SHARE, presented the process development and results of clinical research trials.  Dr Whitlatch gave permission for other professionals to adapt their approach for their own clinical work. ACCS has adapted certain approaches of the SHARE process, but not their terminology or materials.  

   Building on ideas regarding patient-centered care, patient engagement, healthcare advocacy, health literacy, family systems therapy, and other schools of thought, ACCS developed proprietary decision support tools to help partners determine their specific choices.  Approaches from other care planning methods were combined with years of experience with many clients and distilled into this "best practices" based process.

   The Living Values and Choices Care Planning Process© can be used by spouses/partners, with aging parents and their adult children, or any type of care partner relationship.  It can also be used to plan for care related to dementia or any other chronic condition.

Typically the process involves 6 meetings:   

1. Introductory joint meeting with both care partners (person who is or will be receiving care, and their primary care giver)
2. Separate discussions with care partners around values and choices
3. Joint meeting to review values and choices and to plan care
4. Joint or separate discussions around caring for the self and each other
5. Group meeting with family, friends, and/or others who will be involved with or supporting the care process
6. Joint meeting to finalize the care plan and review documentation.