The Japan Geriatrics Society 2025 Position Statement on End-of-Life Care for Older Adults: English Translation of the Japanese Article

Abstract

This paper presents the official position statement of the Japan Geriatrics Society (JGS), updating the “2012 JGS Position Statement” regarding end-of-life (EOL) care for older adults. The “2025 JGS Position Statement,” which was recently published in Japanese, introduces an original definition of EOL, conceptualizing it in two stages: first, based on the individual's medical condition, and subsequently, from the perspective of the individual's life story. In this statement, EOL care refers to medical treatment and care provided at the end of life, grounded in appropriate medical judgment, respecting the individual's way of life, and safeguarding their dignity until death. To the best of our knowledge, no previous definitions have conceptualized EOL in this two-stage manner. The best EOL care described in this statement centers on the principles and practices of palliative care and integrates not only medical knowledge and techniques for diagnosis and treatment but also the collective intellectual and cultural achievements from the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Addressing the psychosocial needs of family members is also an essential component of EOL care. The “2025 JGS Position Statement” presents 10 positions to protect the human rights and dignity of older adults, beginning with opposition to ageism and further promoting palliative care, especially in the field of non-cancer diseases.