Serious Illness Conversations and Shared Goals of Care.

Posted Monday February 23, 2026
Home About Us News Serious Illness Conversations and Shared Goals of Care.
Nurses often need to have conversations with residents about their values, goals and preferences, particularly if they're experiencing a serious or life-limiting illness.

These conversations should take place before a resident has an acute crisis to reduce the risk of them receiving unwanted or unwarranted treatment and to improve their quality of life. It's important that these conversations are structured in a way that takes into account the residents' cultural needs, for example including their family/whānau, and also allow them space and time to make decisions about their care.  There is online support and education available for having these conversations:

  1. Serious Illness Conversations and Shared Goals of Care resources and information https://www.myacp.org.nz/aged-residential-care-specific-resources

  2. Health Learn module "Shared goals of care using the serious illness conversation guide" https://www.healthlearn.ac.nz/course/view.php?id=3094 

  3. New Zealand Dementia Foundation - https://www.nzdementia.org/3tools/Shared-goals-of-care

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