Patients' perceptions of their self-care actions could lead to better outcomes.

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Aims This study examined associations between older adults’ demographic factors and their perceived importance of, desire to and ability to perform seven self‐care behaviours for communicating with healthcare professionals. Design This cross‐sectional survey study analysed subset data of 123 older adults 65 years and older, living in southern United States. Methods The Patient Action Inventory for Self‐Care (57 items, grouped into 11 categories) was used to collect self‐reported self‐care data. Demographic characteristics were also collected. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to tests for relationships between the variables relevant to the research objective. Results Regression findings showed that separated older adults felt less able to share ideas about their healthcare experiences compared to married older adults. Male older adults reported less desire to list issues to discuss and less desire to share ideas about their care experience with their healthcare professionals compared to their female counterparts.

Background Demographic characteristics play a role in influencing the decision to make end‐of‐life (EOL) directives among older adults living in the United States. Aims To examine the associations between older adults’ demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, residential site, and educational level) and their perceived importance of four self‐care actions for EOL planning, as well as their desire and ability to perform these actions. Settings A cross‐sectional survey study of community‐dwelling adults living in the southern United States from 2015 to 2016. Participants Community‐dwelling adults aged 65 years and older (N = 123). Methods A self‐administered tool, the Patient Action Inventory for Self‐Care and a demographic questionnaire were used. Multiple logistic regression was performed. Results Forty‐seven of (38.2%) participants lived in an urban community and 76 (61.8%) in a rural community. Demographic variables that were significant across the predictive models were older adults’ residence, education levels, age, and marital status. Four demographic characteristics of living in rural areas, without a high school education, being 75 years or older, and married could be social determinants of EOL planning. Conclusions Older adults may need community‐based support to address their end‐of‐life needs, especially those elders who want to remain independent in their home environment.