What Influences Older Adults' Preferences for Care?

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society focused on existing medical studies about how older adults with advanced illness form care preferences, reports Medical Xpress . The team analyzed 57 studies, including research that probed preferences for where people wanted to be cared for, the kinds of communication and decision-making they wanted, and what quality of life they hoped to gain over time. Family support was found to be the most important influence on care preferences for older adults, although people also usually formed their preferences based on a number of factors. It also was unusual for older adults to know their care preferences or to have a clear understanding of how they formed those preferences. The study mainly determined the level of support from families was the most critical influence on care preferences, with older adults often changing their preferences because of the concerns of family members or a wish to avoid "being a burden" to others. This was especially true for preferences about the places where people wanted to receive care. In addition, older adults' experiences of previous illness and of caring for others shaped preferences about their own future care. Meanwhile, being more seriously ill strongly influenced care preferences, especially for seniors who were aware that they were sick.