Table 2:

Study characteristics

Author, Journal, Year	Study Design	Setting, Location	Sample, Subjects	Proportion of OA without Family or Friend Guardian in Total Sample	Sample Demographic Characteristics	Statistical Analysis
Janofsky, Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry & Neurology, 1993	Cross-sectional survey	Nursing home (n = 1) Country: USA	Emergency contact or family member of resident (n = 191 respondents)	n = 63 residents lacked durable power of attorney or guardian Prevalence = 33%	n = 46 (73%) were not considered mentally capable of decision-making n = 16 (25.4%) were considered mentally capable of decision-making	None
Teaster, dissertation, 1997	Qualitative interviews, document review	Qualitative interviews, document review of court petitions, and case files from older adults under public guardianship Country: USA	Case files from older adults included in qualitative interviews and observations (n = 19 )	NA	n = 10 (52.6%) able to communicate verbally n = 9 (47.4%) unable to communicate verbally Average age = 80.7 years n = 13 (68.4%) lived in a nursing home, 1 (5.5%) in hospital, 1 (5.3%) in own home, 3 (15.8%) in group home, 1 (5.5%) home for adults n = 10 (52.6%) have a dementia All had at least one major medical diagnosis; the average number of major medical diagnoses was 3+	NA
Author, Journal, Year	Study Design	Setting, Location	Sample, Subjects	Proportion of OA without Family or Friend Guardian in Total Sample	Sample Demographic Characteristics with Comparison Groups	Statistical Analysis
Reynolds, Aging and Mental Health, 1997 a	Cross-sectional survey	Records from Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s Office of Public Guardian Country: USA	Wards who were 70+ (n = 623) Total # of records: n = 2,151	n = 623 older adults under public guardianship Prevalence = 29%	Public Conservatees vs. Nationally Representative Sample of Older Adults Age 85+: Public = 30.2%; National = 13.6% Married: Public = 6%; National = 54.9% Single: Public = 38%; National = 2.9% Separated or divorced: Public = 19.8%; National = 5% Childless: Public = 73.2%; National = 14.9% No Siblings: Public = 71.3%; National = 23.6% High School Graduate +: Public = 65.1%; National = 55.9% Wealth (None): Public = 31.9%; National = 6.5% Real estate value (None): Public = 83.2%; National = 25.5%	Pearson χ2 p < .05 reported
Reynolds, Aging and Mental Health, 1999	Cross-sectional survey	Court records in two counties Country: USA	n = 406 court files	n = 167 had family guardians n = 147 had professional guardians Prevalence = 41%	Public Conservatees vs. Family Conservatees Age (mean): Public = 74.26; Family = 63.45 With Spouse (Yes): Public = 7.60%; Family = 20.2% Number of children: Public = 0.29; Family = 0.96 Number of siblings: Public = 0.41; Family = 0.71	Pearson χ2 p < .05 reported
Reynolds, Research on Aging, 1997	Cross-sectional survey	Records from Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s Office of Public Guardian Country: USA	Wards who were 60+ (n = 894) Total # of records: n = 2,118	42.2%	Older (60+) vs. Young (<60) Female: Old = (0.63); Young = (0.33) Married: Old = (0.06); Young = (0.04) Single: Old = (0.39); Young = (0.74) Widowed: Old = (0.24); Young = (0.01) Divorced/Separated: Old = (0.29); Young = (0.18) Indications of Severe Disability: Old = (0.35); Young = (0.14) ADL Impairments: Old = (2.56); Young = (0.14) Diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychosis: Old = (0.28); Young = (0.74) Diagnosis of dementia/OBS: Old = (0.46); Young = (0.05)	No tests for significant differences; Conducted regression model with age as predictor of placement in locked facility

OA = older adults

OBS = organic brain syndrome

^aThe comparative data set of a nationally representative sample of older adults came from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study described here: https://www.aeaweb.org/rfe/showRes.php?rfe_id=72&cat_id=5