Making Health Decisions - VA Geriatrics and Extended Care

What matters most to you when making health care and treatment decisions?

Veterans and their caregivers must think about many factors when making care and treatment decisions – choices that meet needs while honoring Veteran priorities.

Patient Priorities Care helps patients and their providers focus decision making on what matters most – the Veteran’s priorities. It also recognizes that, when faced with tradeoffs, older adults differ in their own health outcome goals and what they can do to achieve them.

These resources can help you identify your priorities, talk with your providers, or loved ones about them, and make decisions about planning for long term care. 

• Conversation Guide for Patients and Caregivers for Identifying their Health Priorities – Guides the Veteran and caregiver when working with the care team to identify and discuss health priorities, such as core life values, health outcome goals and care preferences 
• Patient Summary of Health Priorities – Allows patients to provide a summary of priorities for their care or treatment 
• Tips for Patients to Communicate with Clinicians – Offers tips for talking about priorities and concerns 
• Veteran Decision Aid for Care at Home or in the Community – Helps Veterans think about what matters most when considering long term care choices 
• Caregiver Self-Assessment – Helps caregivers review their roles and responsibilities and evaluate their stress

 To learn more visit the Decision Making and Advance Care Planning section of www.va.gov/Geriatrics .