Promoting the use of enduring powers of attorney in older adults: A literature review
Corresponding Author
Leander K Mitchell
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Correspondence to: Dr Leander Mitchell, School of Psychology, McElwain Building, The University of Queensland. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorNancy A Pachana
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorJill Wilson
School of Social Work & Human Services, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorBronwyn Massavelli
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorGerard J Byrne
School of Medicine (Psychiatry), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCheryl Tilse
School of Social Work & Human Services, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Leander K Mitchell
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Correspondence to: Dr Leander Mitchell, School of Psychology, McElwain Building, The University of Queensland. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorNancy A Pachana
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorJill Wilson
School of Social Work & Human Services, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorBronwyn Massavelli
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorGerard J Byrne
School of Medicine (Psychiatry), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCheryl Tilse
School of Social Work & Human Services, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This review aims to identify factors that facilitate the establishment of enduring powers of attorney (EPOAs), and those that create a barrier to their establishment. The primary aim was to provide guidance about how to encourage future planning while people are cognitively able to make such important decisions. A detailed search of the literature was conducted to identify research looking at the motivating factors behind putting future-planning strategies in place. The literature highlighted a number of broad areas motivating the establishment of EPOAs, including: demographic factors; intrapersonal and personality factors; health and psychological factors; cognitive factors; and socio-emotional factors. While a number of factors play a role in determining whether or not a person establishes an EPOA, the factor most malleable to change is the awareness and knowledge of older adults and their families regarding the utility of EPOAs.
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