Thinking ahead: factors associated with executing advance directives

Abstract

This article examines why older adults do or do not execute advance directives. METHODS. Secondary data analysis was conducted on data from the Charlotte County (Florida) Healthy Aging Study, on 451 adults who were relatively healthy and affluent. Exploratory logistic regressions were conducted on the probability that respondents had executed advance directives. RESULTS. Findings indicated that increasing age and higher income were the most consistent indicators of having executed an advance directive. Also, individuals reporting taking more prescription medications were more likely to have all the advance directives, except the durable power of attorney for health care. Reporting more negative life events was predictive of having executed the durable power of attorney for health care. DISCUSSION. These findings suggest that in addition to awareness of advance directives, demographic, health, and situational factors may affect the willingness of older adults to execute advance directives. Further research should examine other, more representative, samples to confirm these findings.