Table 1 The main themes of the education programme
 • Understanding the definition and perspectives of Advance Care Planning, and potential consequences of not providing Advance Care Planning  • Topics that the Advance Care Planning should cover and how to identify the patients’ needs  • Potential challenges related to nursing home patients and their family (e.g. dementia, loss of capacity to consent)  • How to involve families, and initiate the communication process  • Basic considerations to ensure good communication (e.g. open-ended questions versus closed-ended, attentive listening, providing both written and verbal information)  • The necessity of organizing formal meetings and not only informal (coincidental) communication  • Practical considerations (e.g. the use of a meeting room to ensure suitable facilities and good atmosphere)  • Documentation of communication to ensure adherence in practice |  |