Table 1.

Demographics and characteristics of deceased patients and informants (N=351)

	N (%)
Deceased age at death (years)
18–29	1 (0.3)
30–49	6 (1.7)
50–64	65 (18.5)
65–79	112 (31.9)
80+	167 (47.6)
Deceased sex
Male	168 (47.9)
Female	183 (52.1)
Deceased ethnic group
German	340 (96.9)
Other	11 (3.1)
Deceased family situation*
Had a partner	163 (46.4)
Lived together with partner	126 (35.9)
Had children	168 (47.9)
Lived together with children	32 (9.1)
Lived together with someone else	21 (6)
Lived alone	114 (32.5)
Someone else had a power of attorney
Yes	311 (88.6)
No	33 (9.4)
Do not know	7 (2)
Illnesses in the last year of life*
Cancer	209 (59.5)
Cardiovascular disease	142 (40.5)
Neuropsychological disease	115 (32.8)
Disease of the respiratory system	103 (29.3)
Liver or kidney disease	67 (19.1)
Diabetes mellitus	45 (12.8)
Decubitus ulcer	24 (6.8)
Informant relation to deceased
Spouse	149 (42.5)
Son/daughter	138 (39.3)
Sibling	18 (5.1)
Son/daughter-in-law	9 (2.6)
Other relative	17 (4.8)
Friend	12 (3.4)
Other	8 (2.3)
Informant age (years)
18–29	2 (0.6)
30–49	46 (13.1)
50–64	154 (43.9)
65–79	118 (33.6)
80+	31 (8.8)
Informant sex
Male	100 (28.5)
Female	251 (71.5)

*Multiple responses were possible.