Does experience of a significant other’s death affect Korean older adults’ end-of-life care planning by encouraging death talks?

Abstract Background This study investigates whether Korean older adults who experienced the death of a significant other are more likely to engage in end-of-life care planning (EOLCP), and whether discussing their own death contributes to this relationship. We also examine the relevance of caregiving experience, time since death, and death suddenness for EOLCP. Methods The analyses are based on survey data collected in 2021 from a nationally representative sample of Korean older adults aged 60 years or older. We used multi-stage stratified cluster sampling techniques to draw our sample (N = 610). Descriptive, logistic regression, and mediation analyses are conducted. Results Results showed that bereaved individuals were more likely to engage in EOLCP than non-bereaved peers, and this association was accounted for by opportunities to talk about one’s own death. Among those bereaved, caregiving prior to death and a more recent loss were both positively associated with EOLCP. Conclusions The findings suggest that experiencing the death of someone close – particularly a recent or caregiving-related death – is associated with greater engagement in EOLCP. Encouraging conversations about death may improve end-of-life outcomes among older Koreans.