Developing a measure of older adults' preparation for future care needs

We developed a measure of preparation for future care needs (PFCN) which co nsists of three parts: a) attitudes regarding the usefulness of planning fo r future care needs and toward the risk of needing help or care in the futu re; b) processes of preparation (becoming aware of future care needs, avoid ance of preparation, gathering information, developing preferences, concret e planning); and c) contents of planning for short- and long-term care need s. Validity data of the questionnaire are reported based on 590 older adult s (65-92 years). Engaging in preparation processes was associated with habi tual decision styles, higher satisfaction with preparation, and greater kno wledge of services. Greater vulnerability to needing future care was associ ated with higher expectations of needing care and more preparation. Interna l consistency and stability of the measure based on 96 seniors was acceptab le for almost all scales.