One Final Gift: Humanizing the End of Life for Women in America

Publication Date: April 1998

Publisher: Alliance for Aging Research

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

Keywords: end of life; women

Type: Report

Abstract:

While boys outnumber girls at birth, women outnumber men by almost 4 to 1 after the age of 95. American women outlive men by an average of 6 years, making the face of aging predominately female.

One Final Gift shows that women are more likely than men to be sicker, poorer, alone, and with greater care needs at the end of their lives. This report identifies the disparities in research and public policies and raises the health, social, emotional, and spiritial concerns that confront many women as they near the end of their lives. It also outlines recommendations on how to best bridge these unacceptable gaps.