Older Adults without Desired Surrogates in a Nationally Representative Sample.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Little is known about older adults who have intact capacity but do not have a desired surrogate to make decisions if their capacity becomes impaired.

Design

Cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample.

Setting

National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), 2005-2006.

Participants

Community-dwelling older adults without known cognitive impairment, aged 57 to 85, interviewed as part of NSHAP (n = 2,767).

Measurements

We examined demographic, medical, and social connectedness characteristics associated with answering "no" to this question: "Do you have someone who you would like to make medical decisions for you if you were unable, as for example if you were seriously injured or very sick?" Because many states

SUBMITTER: Cohen AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7854949 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature