End-of-Life Activities Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan.

Abstract

This study explored end-of-life (EOL) activities among community-dwelling Japanese older adults and the relationships between EOL activities and related variables. One hundred twenty-three older adults (38 men, 87 women; mean age = 72.54 years) who attended EOL seminars were surveyed regarding EOL activities, attitudes toward death, and mental health status. Cluster analysis of EOL activities revealed three clusters: Planning (e.g., had planned own funeral arrangements), Preference (e.g., had talked about EOL care with their family), and Preparation (e.g., already written their will). The number of EOL-related events attended was positively correlated with Preparation, while fear of death was negatively associated with Preference. Older adults with bereavement experience had higher Planning and Preparation scores than those without such experience.