Preparation for future care needs: styles of preparation used by older Eastern German, United States, and Canadian women.

Many older persons have chronic conditions and limitations in their everyday functioning. While some individuals prepare for their future care needs, many others do not. Using semi-structured, qualitative interviews, discourse about dealing with the risk for needing help or care in the future was investigated in 23 East German, 10 U.S., and 12 Canadian elderly community-dwelling women (> or =65 years). Eighty percent had thought about future care needs; 64% had made general plans for their future care. Four preparation styles were identified in the three social-structural contexts: Avoidance of preparation, thinking without planning, short-term planning, and long-term planning. Individuals using these styles differed in their subjective assessment of preparation as well as in objective personal conditions. More similarities than differences were found between German, U.S. and Canadian women in the use of these styles. Results suggest that limited resources, system instability, and personal characteristics contribute to the choice of planning style.