Qualitative Study of Spirituality in End-of-Life Care for Elderly Men Living Alone: Perspective of Care Managers / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

　　Elderly men living alone are susceptible to loneliness, spiritual pain, and distress. However, previous studies of spirituality have been conducted mostly among women and cancer patients. Therefore, this study sought to structuralize spirituality and distress among elderly men living alone. Thirty care managers across Japan discussed the thoughts and feelings they had when providing livelihood support to elderly men living alone, and the content of discussion was structuralized. The data suggest that these elderly men struggle with loneliness, anxiety, and the need for affection, often living a bitter reality. Also, past events affect their present spirituality. However, many care managers still struggle daily to find ways to support elderly men living alone because some elderly men refuse to accept livelihood support and care managers cannot readily access condominium buildings with installed security systems.