Goals of Care After Hip Fracture: Conversations That Matter

In this episode of Hipcast, we’re joined by Dr Linda Sheahan, palliative care physician and clinical ethics consultant, alongside Professor Jacqui Close, orthogeriatrician and geriatric medicine Co-Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry.Together, we explore the importance of goals of care discussions in the context of hip fracture - why they matter, when they should occur, and how they can support patients, families and clinicians during what is often a sudden and life-changing event.Linda and Jacqui discuss the practical and ethical challenges of decision-making after hip fracture, including how to navigate uncertainty, align care with a person’s values and preferences, and approach conversations about surgery, recovery, frailty, prognosis and quality of life.We also consider how goals of care discussions can be embedded into routine hip fracture care, and why these conversations are not about limiting care, but about ensuring that treatment decisions are informed, compassionate and person-centred.Importantly, the conversation highlights that high-quality hip fracture care is not only about timely surgery and rehabilitation, but also about listening carefully to what matters most to the person at the centre of care.You can find resources on Australian Advanced Care Planning resources here. 🎙️ Hipcast is hosted by Dr Niamh Dove and produced by the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry, dedicated to improving outcomes and experiences for people with hip fracture and those who care for them.