This statistic depicts the percentage of U.S. adults that have ever had a serious conversation with a loved one about select serious illness or end of life topics as of 2017, by age. According to the data, among those aged 18 to 29 years, 40 percent had conversations with a loved one regarding who will make medical decisions if they cannot. Comparatively, 82 percent of those aged 65 years and older had the same conversation.
Percentage of U.S. adults that have had serious conversations with a loved one about planning for serious illness as of 2017, by age
Characteristic
18-29 years
30-49 years
50-64 years
65 years and older
Who will make decisions about their medical care if they can no longer make them on their own
40%
59%
69%
82%
Their wishes for medical care if seriously ill
38%
46%
61%
71%
Who will help take care of them if they need help caring for themselves
31%
40%
55%
65%
What's needed for a good quality of life if seriously ill
25%
35%
43%
48%
Where they'll live if seriously ill
17%
29%
39%
55%
How to pay for health care and other support if seriously ill
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Kaiser Family Foundation. (November 2, 2017). Percentage of U.S. adults that have had serious conversations with a loved one about planning for serious illness as of 2017, by age [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 17, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/869507/serious-illness-planning-us-adults-by-age/
Kaiser Family Foundation. "Percentage of U.S. adults that have had serious conversations with a loved one about planning for serious illness as of 2017, by age." Chart. November 2, 2017. Statista. Accessed November 17, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/869507/serious-illness-planning-us-adults-by-age/
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2017). Percentage of U.S. adults that have had serious conversations with a loved one about planning for serious illness as of 2017, by age. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 17, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/869507/serious-illness-planning-us-adults-by-age/
Kaiser Family Foundation. "Percentage of U.S. Adults That Have Had Serious Conversations with a Loved One about Planning for Serious Illness as of 2017, by Age." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Nov 2017, https://www.statista.com/statistics/869507/serious-illness-planning-us-adults-by-age/
Kaiser Family Foundation, Percentage of U.S. adults that have had serious conversations with a loved one about planning for serious illness as of 2017, by age Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/869507/serious-illness-planning-us-adults-by-age/ (last visited November 17, 2024)
Percentage of U.S. adults that have had serious conversations with a loved one about planning for serious illness as of 2017, by age [Graph], Kaiser Family Foundation, November 2, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/869507/serious-illness-planning-us-adults-by-age/
