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In a study
published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, a group of
investigators examined the factors associated with advance directive
completion.
Although various
national polls and selected state surveys provide some insight into American
attitudes about advanced directives, there is a lack of population-based data about
advance directive completion among adults.
For this study,
investigators analyzed data from the 2009 and 2010 Porter Novelli HealthStyles
national surveys, which included EOL and advance directive-specific questions. The
team looked at responses from 7,946 participants in the HealthStyles survey and
found that only 26.3 percent had completed an advance directive.
Investigators
found that the most frequently reported reason for not having one was lack of
awareness.
“The study
provides information from a large sample of adults on their attitudes and
behaviors regarding advance directives,” says Lynda A. Anderson, Ph.D. and director
of the Healthy Aging Program, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While several
investigations have shown that health care costs are greatest during the final
years of life, researchers found that the use of advance directives was
associated with lower levels of Medicare spending and a lower likelihood of
in-hospital deaths.
Try to convince
your family that it’s important to you that your wishes be carried out. It
might help to consult an attorney in advance to have an idea what you would
like to see happen as you age before you meet with family.
Remember to think about care options as well. Older adults are staying at home
longer than ever with the wealth of resources now available.
Contact your
local Home Instead Senior Care® office today to discover the many
options available to you to remain at home as you age.
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