[Acceptance Of Death And Its Dehospitalisation].

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• The awareness of mortality can contribute to mental health challenges.
• Understanding death anxiety in older adults is crucial for their well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess death anxiety levels in older adults.
• To examine the influence of age, gender, social factors, activities, self-esteem, religion, and advanced disease on death anxiety.
• To determine preferences regarding end-of-life care locations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study was conducted.
• Face-to-face interviews were performed with 300 elderly patients (over 75 years) without dementia.
• The Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) was utilized.

Main Results:

• Higher death anxiety was observed in women, those inactive physically or socially, and those with depressed mood.
• Fear of a painful death was reported by 88.5% of participants.
• Physical activity (OR=.188) significantly reduced anxiety, while depression (OR=2.943) increased it.
• 61.5% preferred to die at home, versus 9.7% in a hospital.

Conclusions:

• Older adults express fear of a painful death but not of dying itself.
• Male gender and engagement in physical/leisure activities correlate with lower death anxiety.
• Advanced disease acceptance increases with illness progression.
• A strong preference exists for dying at home, indicating a desire to 'de-hospitalize' death.