Table 4.

Appropriateness: Categories and codes from the interviews with family caregivers and people with dementia.

Themes	Categories	Codes
Experiences with discussing preferences	Discussing medical and non-medical issues	Choices within ACP depend on the present situation
		ACP focused on medical and non-medical issues
		ACP also focused on the here and now
		ACP mostly focused on health related issues
	Additional ACP outcomes	ACP stimulates to think about the future
		ACP provides peace
		ACP provides clarity
		ACP increases trust in the healthcare provider
		ACP increases contact with the healthcare provider
		ACP increases the knowledge about dementia
		ACP makes sure their wishes are known
		ACP was not confronting
		ACP had not been useful
		ACP was confronting
		ACP was stressful
Making timely shared decisions	Shared decision making	ACP should be decided upon together
		Healthcare professional should also listen to family caregiver
		FC could co-decide during ACP
		FC discussed ACP with person with dementia
		FC makes ACP decisions if necessary
		FC felt equal to the GP during ACP
		Engaging PWD is difficult because cognitive decline
		PWD keep aloof during ACP
		Making decisions for PWD is sometimes difficult
		SDM did not take place
		Taking responsibility for ACP decisions is difficult
		FC doubts if person with dementia can co-decide
		PWD’s insight in their situation is limited
		ACP is not feasible because of cognition
	Proactive behaviour	ACP has to be repeated twice a year
		ACP has to be repeated annually
		FC had not thought about the future
		Proactive behaviour stimulates ACP
		GP has to take the initiative
		FC does not take the initiative
		Regular contact is important for ACP
		Discuss ACP when problems arise
		Has not thought about the future
		Does not want to think about the future
		FC does not contact the GP herself for ACP

ACP Advance care planning; GP General practitioner; FC Family caregiver; PWD People with dementia; SDM Shared decisions making.