Would I Want to Reach Age 100? Perspectives of Centenarians’ Family Members on Reaching Exceptional Longevity

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the wish to reach 100 years old in a sample of centenarians’ family members and explore the main reasons for supporting or refuting such a desire. Answers to an open question on the wish to reach 100 years old were analyzed via thematic coding and further explored in relation to personal characteristics (age, gender, kinship, and caregiver status) and to the centenarians’ health status (cognition, functional health). Most family members (56.5%) wished to become centenarians but only under specific circumstances (i.e., functional independence, good health status). Younger proxies (<65 years old) were more likely to express the wish for becoming centenarians; those refuting such a desire (43.5%) stressed the potential unavailability of family support and not wanting to become a burden. No differences were found based on the centenarians’ health status. Further studies are needed on family relations within these specific caregiving dyads.