Table 2:

End-of-life characteristics of older decedents by kin status

	Community-dwelling			Full sample
	Kinless N=140	Has Kin N=2,749	P-value	Kinless N=233	Has Kin N=3,489	P-value
Place of Death:
Hospital	36.5	36.8	0.96	32.8	34.1	0.74
Nursing Home	18.1	10.3	0.01	31.9	20.30	<0.001
Home3	45.4	53.0	0.18	35.3	45.59	0.02
Intensive care unit admission	30.7	37.6	0.25	28.6	34.82	0.14
Life support	20.8	24.2	0.44	17.4	22.19	0.17
Hospice enrollment2	29.2	38.7	0.15	34.5	40.55	0.23
Engagement in advance care planning:
Discussion of care preferences1	45.8	59.6	0.02	50.0	58.34	0.04
Advance directive	65.3	65.3	0.99	68.8	67.68	0.75
Health care proxy	59.2	57.7	0.75	62.4	60.51	0.60
Symptoms in the last year of life:
Very little appetite	59.9	63.4	0.53	62.8	64.72	0.66
Frequent vomiting	10.2	11.0	0.84	8.5	10.30	0.55
Periodic confusion	34.1	41.7	0.11	45.5	48.37	0.44
Depression	41.3	49.8	0.09	42.7	51.20	0.01
Duration of final illness: >1 year	18.3	22.9	0.42	21.6	23.11	0.68
Any paid helpers	13.4	9.2	0.15	10.5	8.12	0.29
Total number of helpers: 1
0	59.0	49.2	0.06	43.0	41.00	0.29
1	13.6	23.1		17.3	22.6
≥2	27.4	27.8		39.7	36.4
Total hours/week of help, mean (SD)	34.7 (58.5)	56.2 (74.9)	0.02	18.7 (44.5)	42.1 (67.6)	<0.001

Data source: Health and Retirement Study, 2002-2015. Estimates adjusted for survey design, sampling approach, and non-response. Data are given as percentage unless otherwise indicated. Estimates adjusted for survey weights. Kin is defined as having a spouse/partner or child of any type. SD= standard deviation. Paid helpers excludes institutional employees. Total hours of help per week includes paid and unpaid help. All variables derived from exit interview unless otherwise indicated.

¹Helper data are ascertained from last HRS interview prior todeath.

²Hospice variable derived from a combination of Medicare claims (if present) or exit interview if no claims data were present.

³Includes assisted living, retirement community, and residential hospice.