This is according to a study published last week in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, which was first reported by McKnights Long-Term Care News.
“Decision-making and planning are essential in order to support successful aging-in-place (AIP), which is defined as continuing to live in one’s home and community,” the study explained. “Despite making plans at one single time-point, prior research has demonstrated that decision-making among older adults is not stagnant.”
Based on data from a “cohort study of community dwelling older adults,” the researchers — who hail from Northwestern University — focused on those who had shown “a fluctuation in their AIP/LTC decisions over a six-month period and surveyed what influenced their decisions to change.”
This resulted in a pool of 293 subjects, and the researchers found that 134 of them (45.7%) had expressed a change to at least one decision. The most influential factors to these changes included personal health experiences or the experiences of a loved one; additional contemplation on the part of a person; the influences of a social support network; and “denying change.”
In the end, the researchers found that because these plans are not totally fixed, having periodic discussions about plans regarding aging in place or LTC is necessary.
“Providers should encourage families and patients to revisit these plans over time, as well as come up with alternative plans in case of unexpected social support network or health status changes,” the study said.
Open dialogue helps facilitate more permanent solutions that are inclusive of experiences and changes in situations, they added.
“It is our hope that with increased understanding of the factors that influence decision-making among older adults, healthcare providers will be better equipped to engage in ongoing conversations with older adults in order to support successful AIP and LTC planning,” the study said.
Recently, another study from Johns Hopkins University found a need for expanded long-term care services that can support broad aging-in-place goals.