Planning for Future Care and the End of Life: A Qualitative Analysis of Gay, Lesbian, and Heterosexual Couples.

Academic Article

Abstract

  • Two key components of end-of-life planning are (1) informal discussions about future care and other end-of-life preferences and (2) formal planning via living wills and other legal documents. We leverage previous work on the institutional aspects of marriage and on sexual-minority discrimination to theorize why and how heterosexual, gay, and lesbian married couples engage in informal and formal end-of-life planning. We analyze qualitative dyadic in-depth interviews with 45 midlife gay, lesbian, and heterosexual married couples ( N = 90 spouses). Findings suggest that same-sex spouses devote considerable attention to informal planning conversations and formal end-of-life plans, while heterosexual spouses report minimal formal or informal planning. The primary reasons same-sex spouses give for making end-of-life preparations are related to the absence of legal protections and concerns about discrimination from families. These findings raise questions about future end-of-life planning for same- and different-sex couples given a rapidly shifting legal and social landscape.

    • Authors

    Published In

    Keywords

  • aging, dyadic qualitative analysis, end-of-life planning, marriage, sexual minorities, Advance Care Planning, Family Characteristics, Female, Heterosexuality, Humans, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Qualitative Research, Sexual and Gender Minorities, Terminal Care

    • Digital Object Identifier (doi)

    Author List

  • Thomeer MB; Donnelly R; Reczek C; Umberson D

    • Start Page

  • 473

    • End Page

  • 487

    • Volume

  • 58

    • Issue

  • 4