Abstract
The US population is aging. Accordingly, older adults with multiple comorbidities and geriatric syndromes will present in increasing numbers for surgical consultation. Incorporating patient goals into surgical treatment decisions is recommended by a joint guideline from the American Geriatrics Society and American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the Geriatric Surgery Verification program, and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as part of building Age-Friendly Health Systems, however uptake has been slow. The aim of this review is to provide a framework for how patient goals can be elicited and used in real-world surgical practices to achieve goal-aligned care.