Health care decisions of older adults: underlying influences, cognitive status, and perceived outcomes

Fifty-seven community-dwelling older adults responded to hypothetical health care scenarios. The older adults' willingness to accept care rose as their chances for recovery increased. They also were more likely to agree to treatment when responding from their current health status rather than when they presumed a state of permanent confusion. Five primary reasons emerged that guided the older adults' decision-making process: medical considerations, personal relationships, past experiences, quality of life, and age. Their preferences for procedures and treatments emerged from an interplay of knowledge, beliefs, and emotional attachments.