Perception by senior adults of dying process

Abstract

Introduction: Death is an unexplored mystery full of incognita, fears, and anguish; it is an inherent process which goes along to life at every single moment.
Objective: To identify the perception of the dying process by elderly.
 

Methodology: Transversal study on elderly older than 60 years in two Family Medicine Facilities. 121 elderly selected proportionally from the groups of recreational activities were interviewed. The perception was measured through 8 items (4 positive and 4 negative). Afterward, they were reclassified as positive, indifferent, and negative. The analysis plan included simple frequencies and logistic regression.

Results: Female gender was predominant 61%; the average age was 67.97±5.61; 32.2% from the range 60 to 64 years old; 50.4% married and 57% with elementary school. Feelings showed frequently, on independently way were peace and sadness with 27.3%.  The 43.8% of studied population was focused on the negative perception. The model that best fit to explain the perception included living by oneself, not talking with anybody regarding death, not being prepared for the decease moment, and dying in the hospital (p<0.5).
 

Conclusions: The perception regarding death may be modified as long as everyone makes oneself
conscious regarding the fact that the occurrence will be completely guaranteed, paradoxically, in a natural, unique, and individual way. "Nobody else might live our life instead ourselves".