Young Adults' Perspectives on Advance Care Planning.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of young adults regarding advance care planning (ACP). METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of young adults (N = 310) from a single metropolitan university during September to November 2016 completed an online survey about their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding ACP. Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were conducted. RESULTS: Young adults lacked familiarity and knowledge regarding ACP. Those who were most familiar with ACP terminology were more likely to be older, female, enrolled in a graduate program, and employed full time. Although the majority of respondents had positive attitudes and beliefs about ACP, only one-third had talked with their family/loved ones about their wishes for end-of-life care. DISCUSSION: Our study findings suggest a strong need to inform and engage young adults in ACP and end-of-life care discussions. As young adults are likely to become a caregiver for an aging family member, they can have an important role in initiating and facilitating conversations with loved ones and be instrumental in ACP for older adults.

Factors Influencing Advance Care Planning Among Older Adults in Two Socioeconomically Diverse Living Communities.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Advance care planning (ACP) is an iterative, complex, and dynamic process of discussion, decision-making, and documentation about end-of-life care. The extent to which this process takes place in older adults in diverse socioeconomic settings is not well documented. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about ACP among older adults in two socioeconomically diverse settings to identify the individual and contextual factors that influence behaviors regarding end-of-life care. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey design was used. SETTING: An affordable independent continuing care retirement community and a high-income eligible (HIE) independent continuing care retirement community. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 55 years and older who resided in independent living. MEASUREMENTS: A 61-item survey was administered. Simple descriptive statistics were used to examine the responses, and inferential statistics were used to evaluate which items were associated with key outcomes between the 2 settings. RESULTS: Seventy-seven older adults completed the survey. Significant differences in familiarity of terminology and knowledge of ACP, as well as significant differences in completion of advance directives and communication, were found between the 2 communities. No differences were found in attitudes and beliefs about end-of-life issues. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of knowledge and engagement in ACP were reported at the HIE community as compared to the affordable housing community. These findings provide insight into the influence of the contextual forces that encourage and support ACP.