Preparation for Future Care Needs in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: What Promotes Feeling of Preparedness?
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether demographic, dementia-related, and control-related variables predict preparation for future care needs (PFCN) in a sample of middle-aged and older adults. PFCN is defined in this study as a self-perceived sense of preparedness for one's own future care needs, including general awareness of future care needs, gathering relevant information, decision-making about care preferences, concrete planning, and non-avoidance of care planning.


METHODS
Participants (N = 122; age 40 to 88 years: M = 65.83, SD = 9.80) completed self-report measures in an in-person study. Hierarchical multiple regression was calculated to predict PFCN.


RESULTS
Being female, having more positive dementia attitudes, higher attribution to powerful others for health condition(s), and more completed end-of-life (EOL) planning significantly predicted greater PFCN.


CONCLUSION
Findings indicate a positive relationship between objective (completed EOL planning items) and subjective (PFCN) components of planning, thus highlighting the importance of taking concrete steps in EOL planning to yield greater feelings of preparedness, which has been associated with positive psychological outcomes.
['Yun|Stacy W|SW|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7357-7519', 'Greenberg|Jeff|J|', 'Maxfield|Molly|M|']
D000328:Adult D032722:Advance Care Planning D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D003643:Death D004644:Emotions D005260:Female D005544:Forecasting D006801:Humans D008875:Middle Aged D013727:Terminal Care
preparation for future care needs dementia attitudes dementia-related anxiety end-of-life planning multidimensional health locus of control palliative care