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Are older adults’ demographic characteristics social determinants of their perceived importance, desire, and ability to perform end‐of‐life self‐care actions?
Author(s) -
Tzeng HueyMing,
Barker Anne,
Kang Yu Sunny,
Okpalauwaekwe Udoka,
Yin ChangYi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
nursing forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.618
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1744-6198
pISSN - 0029-6473
DOI - 10.1111/nuf.12371
Subject(s) - marital status , residence , gerontology , logistic regression , social support , psychology , rural area , independent living , activities of daily living , medicine , demography , population , environmental health , social psychology , pathology , sociology , psychiatry
Abstract Background Demographic characteristics play a role in influencing the decision to make end‐of‐life (EOL) directives among older adults living in the United States. Aims To examine the associations between older adults’ demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, residential site, and educational level) and their perceived importance of four self‐care actions for EOL planning, as well as their desire and ability to perform these actions. Settings A cross‐sectional survey study of community‐dwelling adults living in the southern United States from 2015 to 2016. Participants Community‐dwelling adults aged 65 years and older (N = 123). Methods A self‐administered tool, the Patient Action Inventory for Self‐Care and a demographic questionnaire were used. Multiple logistic regression was performed. Results Forty‐seven of (38.2%) participants lived in an urban community and 76 (61.8%) in a rural community. Demographic variables that were significant across the predictive models were older adults’ residence, education levels, age, and marital status. Four demographic characteristics of living in rural areas, without a high school education, being 75 years or older, and married could be social determinants of EOL planning. Conclusions Older adults may need community‐based support to address their end‐of‐life needs, especially those elders who want to remain independent in their home environment.