A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that quality of life is increasing for those in their final year of life.

The study involved 9,179 decedents. The researchers polled next of kin to report on the health status of their loved ones during their final years. The results showed that women used significantly fewer hospital and nursing home services in the last year of life in 1993 vs. 1986. Men aged 85 and older spent 32.6 fewer nights in a nursing home.

The proportion of women aged 85 and older with restrictions of at least two activities of daily living decreased from 62.5% in 1986 to 52.1% in 1993, and those with normal cognitive function increased from 50.3% to 56.2%. Their overall sickness decreased and quality of life improved.

Though there were some negative results—such as a worsening of cognitive function among the oldest men between 1986 and 1993—most of the signs indicate that quality of life at end-of-life is improving for Americans.