Kinlessness and end-of-life care quality

Does race and ethnicity matter

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12442804
AutoresY Pei (0000-0001-6236-3948, The University of Texas at Austin), Zexi Zhou (0000-0002-7817-724X, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas), Shaoqing Ge (0000-0003-2436-5760, The University of Texas at Austin), Xiang Qi (0000-0002-4089-3435, New York University), Kaipeng Wang (0000-0002-2206-4318, University of Denver), Weiyu Mao (0000-0003-3629-0882, School of Social Work, University of Nevada , Reno, Nevada), Bei Wu (0000-0002-6891-244X, New York University Shanghai Provost and Distinguished Global Professor of Public Health, , Shanghai, Shanghai)
EditoresMarkus Schafer (0000-0002-0088-7022)
Año2025
Volumen80
Número12
Fecha de publicación2025-09-20
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe Journals of Gerontology Series B (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1079-5014 • E-ISSN: 1758-5368
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/geronb/gbaf183
PMID40991333
OpenAlexW4414466341
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas48

Objectives Close family members provide the majority of end-of-life (EoL) caregiving. However, the number of kinless older adults (defined as lacking children and a partner) is increasing. Moreover, non-White older adults are more likely to rely on close families to provide care at the EoL than their White counterparts. Therefore, we examined the association between kinlessness and the quality of EoL care among older adults and the intersectional effect of kinlessness and race/ethnicity on EoL quality. Methods Data were derived from the combined Rounds 2–11 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study. The working sample included 3,045 older adults who were over 65 and living in the community or residential care facilities at the last interview. We used ordered logistic regression to examine both the independent effect of kinlessness and its intersection with race/ethnicity on the quality of EoL care among older adults. Results A total of 7.7% of decedents were kinless at the EoL. Kinless older adults were less likely to receive higher-rated EoL care than those with kin, with non-White older adults being disproportionately affected compared to their White counterparts. Discussion These results highlight a significant disadvantage for non-White kinless older adults, who had worse EoL care quality. From a policy standpoint, there is a need to invest more in supporting alternatives to the family-centered model in EoL care delivery for those without close kin

Family Support in Illness · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving