Longitudinal Associations between Expectations of Receiving Care in the Future and Life Satisfaction among Older Adults in Korea

Objectives: Uncertainty about receiving care and assistance in the future has been increasing among older adults in Korea. This study examines whether expectations about receiving care from various sources (i.e., formal and/or filial caregivers) are related to life satisfaction among older adults in Korea. Methods: Using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N = 3,607, aged 65 or older), this study estimated fixed effects regression models to investigate longitudinal within-person associations between future care expectations and life satisfaction. Results: The results of this study revealed that developing expectations of care from family caregivers is positively associated with life satisfaction. Beginning to expect care from nonfamily caregivers, however, is not associated with life satisfaction. When disaggregating different sources of care by family member type, expecting care from a spouse or daughter(s), but not son(s), is associated with higher life satisfaction. Gender-specific analyses showed that expecting care from daughter(s) is positively associated with life satisfaction among both men and women, whereas expectations of spousal care are associated with only men's life satisfaction. This study also found suggestive but not conclusive evidence that an association between care expectations from family caregivers and life satisfaction is stronger among older adults with lower education. Discussion: Reducing uncertainty about future care may improve older adults' subjective well-being. Policymakers may consider policies and programs that support family care of the aged, and more fundamentally, encourage family involvement in the lives of older people.