A Comparative Analysis of the Place of Death of Older Adults in Hawai'i, 2003-2018.

Studies from around the world have found that the preferred place of death is at home. Although desired, the ability to die at home requires personal, social, and structural factors to be in place. In the United States, between 2003 and 2017, there were decreased hospital and nursing facility deaths and increased home and hospice facility deaths. This study aims to determine whether a change in the place of death in those greater than 65 years of age in Hawai'i is similar to the overall United States data and if these changes in place of death are similar across islands/counties in the state of Hawai'i. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database were analyzed for natural deaths between 2003 and 2018 in Hawai'i. Between 2003 and 2018, there were 120 115 natural deaths in Hawai'i, with a decrease in the overall percentage of deaths in hospitals from 53% in 2003 to 33% in 2018. During the same period, home deaths increased from 23% to 33%, and nursing facility deaths increased from 14% to 16%. This study found that the change in the place of death in those greater than 65 years in Hawai'i is similar to the overall United States data as a whole, but not within individual Hawai'i counties. ©Copyright 2021 by University Health Partners of Hawai‘i (UHP Hawai‘i).