Does it Matter Who Decides? Outcomes of Surrogate Decision-Making for Community-Dwelling, Cognitively Impaired Older Adults Near the End of Life.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Cognitively impaired older adults frequently need surrogate decision-making near the end-of-life. It is unknown whether differences in the surrogate's relationship to the decedent are associated with different end-of-life treatment choices.

Objectives

To describe differences in end-of-life care for community dwelling, cognitively impaired older adults when children and spouses are involved in decision-making.

Methods

Retrospective observational study.

Results

Among 742 community-dwelling adults with cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment or dementia) prior to death, children participated in end-of-life decisions for 615 patients (83%) and spouses participated in decisions for 258 patients (35%), with both children and spouses participating for

SUBMITTER: Baum MY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8648882 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature