Attitudes toward decision making and aging, and preparation for future care needs

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Family Studies

Background:

• Adult children provide most informal eldercare in the U.S.
• Families frequently lack advance preparation for parental care needs.
• Preparation can mitigate depression and anxiety in older adults and support adult children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine factors associated with caregiving preparation among functionally independent older parents and their adult children.
• To identify attitudes that may facilitate or inhibit preparation for future caregiving responsibilities.

Main Methods:

• Survey methodology employed with two distinct groups: parents (≥60 years) and adult children (≥40 years).
• Investigated associations between various factors and stages of caregiving preparation (awareness, information gathering, discussion).

Main Results:

• Attitudes toward shared autonomy and aging anxiety were positively linked to all preparation stages.
• Concern about caregiving's negative impacts and a perception of a limited future also correlated with preparation.
• Several variables were associated with awareness of care needs, information gathering, and discussion of care arrangements.

Conclusions:

• Understanding specific attitudes is crucial for developing interventions to promote proactive caregiving preparation.
• Findings offer insights for gerontologists, interventionists, and families navigating future caregiving needs.
• Proactive planning for eldercare can positively impact the well-being of both aging parents and their adult children.