Helping Persons Experiencing Homelessness Complete Advance Directives: A Model for Service Learning within a Community-Academic Partnership

Despite their interest in completing advance directives (ADs), persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) appear to have fewer surrogate decision-makers and limited opportunities for advance care planning (ACP). Nursing students and faculty, a hospital bioethicist, and social service agency staff formed a community-academic partnership that helps PEH complete ADs. This unique service-learning opportunity offers a model for assisting vulnerable populations with ACP. Model effectiveness and limitations are described from each partner’s perspective in their own words.