Caregiver burden may influence individuals’ preferences for their own End-of-Life (EoL) care, but evidence remains limited.
Objective
Examine the association between caregiver burden and preferred EoL care settings across levels of anticipated care dependency.
Methods
A survey was conducted with 297 caregivers of functionally independent adults aged ≥75 in Sukagawa City, Japan. Participants selected preferred EoL care settings (“home/family home” vs. “hospital/nursing home/other”) across three hypothetical scenarios reflecting low, moderate, and high levels of care dependency at their own EoL. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Burden Index of Caregivers. Modified Poisson regression was applied.
Results
Higher caregiver burden was significantly associated with preference for non-home settings in high- and low-dependency scenarios.
Conclusion
Caregiver burden may shape future EoL care setting preferences. Recognizing its influence could help clinicians tailor care planning discussions that reflect individuals’ values and preferences. It may also inform policies aimed at reducing caregiver burden.
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