A voyage to the twilight: Exploring death preparation among the elderly

ABSTRACT

@#<p style="text-align justify;">What if the angel of death suddenly came knocking on your door? Death and aging are inevitable. However, since investigations usually assume that death unanimously provokes anxiety, death is often termed the last taboo which makes it painful for most people to talk about, think about, or even plan for it. This study was conducted to determine the philosophies and attitudes of the elderly in terms of the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects of death preparation. The study also sought to determine importance of a support system for the elderly faced or are facing neardeath experiences and/or terminal illnesses. The study utilized phenomenology as its research design. Eight informants from the different cities and municipalities of Pangasinan were chosen through purposive sampling. All of them have been involved in a near-death experience and/or are in a dying state. Data was gathered in the form of a semi-structured interview. The study found that the informants' respective concepts of death, the grieving process, their cultivated philosophies, and support system played major roles in helping them prepare for death.</p> <p> </p>