Factors That Influence Elders' Decisions to Formulate Advance Directives

Abstract

Abstract Nine minority and eleven White low-income community-dwelling senior adults participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews regarding end-of-life decision-making related to the completion of advance directives (e.g., living wills and health care proxies). The seniors were asked to discuss the role of their own evaluations and beliefs and their perceptions of the influence of significant others in their decisions to complete advance directives. Religious affiliation and a measure of religiosity were also examined. The participants overwhelmingly evaluated the completion of advance directives as positive, but many of the seniors reported that discussing end-of-life issues with their children was difficult. In addition, depth of religious belief figured prominently in medical treatment planning for some of the participants, particularly the minority seniors