Objective To clarify the conceptual connotation of future care preparation based on nursing practice through analyzing the conceptual evolution, attributes, antecedents, consequences, classic cases, and assessment tools of future care preparation. Methods Literature on future care preparation for older adults was retrieved from Chinese and English databases including CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library, with the retrieval time from the establishment of each database to May 2025. Rodgers′ evolutionary concept analysis was applied to analyze the included literature. Results A total of 45 articles were included, consisting of 5 Chinese articles and 40 English articles. The conceptual attributes of future care preparation for older adults included four aspects:proactive coping, consideration of disability care, long-term risk management, and clarification of needs and preferences. The antecedents included internal factors (demographic characteristics, health status, psychological traits, personal abilities) and external factors (intergenerational relationships, social support). Corresponding consequences were identified:adequate future care preparation (optimization of individual health outcomes, reconstruction of family care systems, improvement of social support efficiency) and inadequate future care preparation (deterioration of individual health, collapse of family care systems, occupation of social resources). Conclusion Future care preparation for older adults is defined as: preparatory behaviors taken by older adults to address potential future care needs through proactive coping, consideration of disability care, management of long-term risks, and clarification of needs and preferences. Analyzing the concept of future care preparation for older adults lays a foundation for further research on intervention measures suitable for China′s national conditions and the development of localized assessment tools in the future.