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Yumi Shin, Daegu University, South KoreaAbstract
This study examines the relationship between family dynamics and end-of-life experiences among middle-aged and older decedents from a comparative national perspective, utilizing data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) and similar datasets: the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) in the US, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) in the UK, and the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Middle-aged and older individuals are defined as those aged 55 to 95, with a total sample size of 9,423 (KLoSA: 1,169; SHARE: 4,272; HRS: 3,599; ELSA: 383) surveyed between 2008 and 2013. Key findings indicate that the proportion of individuals with a spouse at death was highest in the UK (ELSA: 66.8%), followed by Europe (SHARE: 59.6%), Korea (KLoSA: 58.7%), and the US (HRS: 43.9%). Cohabitation with children was most common in Korea (KLoSA: 43.5%), while the hospital death rate was highest in Korea (KLoSA: 60.3%). Sudden death rates were also highest in Korea (KLoSA: 16.6%). Conversely, the percentage of individuals who wrote a living will was highest in the UK (ELSA: 64.4%), with Korea having the lowest rate (KLoSA: 6.8%). This trend highlights significant implications for end-of-life care, particularly in Korea, where high rates of sudden death coincide with low living will documentation. The study discusses policy and practical implications for end-of-life care planning.
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