英伦广角 更多的美国人会提前“写好遗嘱”

 

Most people don’t like to think about death, much less plan for it. Many Americans have thus failed to officially record their wishes should they be faced with catastrophic circumstances that, for example, would require them to be placed on a ventilator for survival.

But a survey finds that Baby Boomers seem more willing than prior generations to issue advance directives, including documents like living wills that would spare loved ones the burden of making end-of-life decisions for them.

In 2000, only 47 percent of Americans more than 60 years old had filled out key forms spelling out their desires or designating a person legally empowered to fulfill¹ their wishes. By 2010, 72 percent of that age group had done the paperwork.

The findings come from what’s called the Health and Retirement² Study, an ongoing³ research effort funded by the National Institute on Aging and Social Security Administration. Data from some 6,000 middle-aged⁴ and elderly adults went into this part of the study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. [Maria J. Silveira, Wyndy Wiitala and John Piette, Advance Directive Completion by Elderly Americans: A Decade of Change]

The American Medical Association says it is committed to promoting the use of advance directives to ensure that health care workers and family members act in accordance with a patient's wishes.

1 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

2 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。