Investigating Death Anxiety in Institutionalized Elderly Individuals Based on Some Variables

Authors : Deniz Say Şahin

Pages : 725-730

Doi:10.31067/acusaglik.847322

View : 38 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 2021-09-29

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Objective: For the purpose of guiding professional groups working with elderly individuals and families, we aimed to determine the views of elderly individuals on death, anxiety-creating factors and the variables that affect these. Material and Method: By applying the Standardized Mini Mental Examination Test for 96 elderly individuals living at institutions (nursing homes and old people’s homes), questionnaires, a sociodemographic data form and the Templer Death Anxiety Scale were applied on 82 elderly individuals with test scores of 27 or higher with the method of face-to-face interviews. Results: It was found that the variables of age, gender, marital status and frequently thinking of death were effective on death anxiety, while income, presence of a chronic disease, status of having children and educational status were not effective in terms of death anxiety. It was determined that only 16 (19.5%) of the participants were afraid of death very much, while all of them (n=82, 100%) were afraid of death by suffering pain. Conclusion: The anxieties of the elderly individuals related to death varied based on some sociodemographic variables, and the results of our study showed that all participants were anxious about ‘dying while suffering pain’. Knowing about anxieties and fears regarding death will be guiding in the clinical practices of especially healthcare professional groups.
Keywords : Aged, anxiety, nursing homes, pain, death