Factors related to advance planning for decline of decision-making capacity among the frail elderly

Abstract

  The purpose of this study was to explore the factors related to the design of advance planning for the decline of decision-making capacity among the frail elderly, employing quantitative data, and to describe the completion process of advance planning employing qualitative data. The data were obtained from the members of daytime-care service of 2 institutions situated in Tokyo metropolitan area. Face to face interviews applying questionnaires were conducted with 98 members, 91 members of whom were to be quantitatively analyzed. In another research, 5 members of different family structure were interviewed by semi-structured format, and data were qualitatively analyzed.

  Based on the results of quantitative study, it was found that (1) living alone and having fear of serious future decline were significant factors to promote advance planning, (2) advance planning for the future of frail elderly was not completed by self-determination, but was influenced by the intention of family. The results acquired from qualitative study indicated that the elderly who consider the high probability of decline of decision-making capacity, were able to make decisions about advance planning for the future through discussions with their family members.