Question

in 250 words - What are some of the aspects that you have previously considered about death, dying, and bereavement? What, if anything, do you know now that you will need to address? Some people have experienced a great deal of loss, others very little; however, eventually we all will have to face the issue of mortality, whether it is ours or someone we know. What do you see as being the major considerations that you will have to address as you enter into Old Age?

Answer 1

There are mainly two aspects that related to death, dying and bereavement, which are :

A) Psychological aspects.

B) Social aspects.

Death and Dying :

Death is a central aspect of the human condition. At some point, human beings developed an awareness that life was finite, and from that moment on, people have tried to 'make sense' of death. This has led to questions like :

- Why do we die ?

- What happens after we die ?

- How can we prolong life ?

- How can we experience a 'Good' death ?

Most recently, scientists have had a significant impact upon how people understand death, dying and bereavement . There are variation in how death is understood by different people and different cultures, the language and the words that use to describe death and dying. Language can convey our values and may reflect culture and wider society . The use of language is just one aspect of how death is expressed and understood .

The meanings people ascribe to death are not static.They change over time, within and between cultures .The concept of the 'good death' presents a view of death that is peaceful, gentle, and anticipated, free of unnecessary medical intervention. It connect with the natural birth movement .

In their extensive reviews of the academic literature , Erica Borgstrom(2014) and Cottrell and Duggleby (2016) have suggested there are a number of key features that have become synonymous with ideas about a 'good death' in contemporary Western societies . These include :

- awareness and acceptance of dying ( viewed as a positive)

- preparedness (getting ones affairs in order)

- comfort (minimization of pain )

- closure ( addressing and resolving difficult issues)

- peacefulness and dignity

- presence of family and being in familiar home surroundings

- person hood (a sense that an individuals wishes and preferences have been accounted for)

- timeliness (dying at an older age)

Bereavement :

There are differences between how grief or bereavement is portrayed in the public sphere compared to the private sphere which can be interpreted as expressing internal feelings, thoughts and behavior behind closed spaces.(Howarth, 2007)

In some cultures grief is portrayed in song and in films often expressed as isolating and sad experience. It also possible to identify grief through news paper stories and magazine articles.While the issues of death and dying might be considered taboo in some cultures, references to grief and bereavement in public and private are relatively common .Perhaps social expressions of grief and bereavement are more socially acceptable than talk of death and dying more directly.

Major considerations of old age :

There are mainly Physical and psychological considerations in old age. Age related diseases both physically and mentally.