Table.

Older adults’ preferences regarding life expectancy discussions in primary care.

Preferred timing to discuss life expectancy	Example
Never	“I can’t see where [discussing life expectancy] is helpful…no one wants to know when it’s coming so the less they know about when it’s coming the better off I think they are.”
Only near end-of-life	“[Discussing life expectancy] is not necessary unless all signs are pointing to absolutely you are not going to live past 6 months.”
When life expectancy is longer than 1 year
2–3 years	“I would want to know within 2 years so that I could get things straightened out… but anything beyond that I would not want to know.”
5 years	“I think 5 years would give me the time to do the things I may want to do if I have the ability to do them.”
As early as possible	“As far in advance as possible…[even 10 years].”
Preferred format of life expectancy information
Qualitative description	“If you think… that I might not last another 5 years, just tell me that I’m not doing as well as you had hoped, but … hold off giving a certain number.”
Quantitative information	“I think the more quantification you can provide the better.”