Attitudes Towards Death among Geriatric Care Workers in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

Background: Older or geriatric patients were among the people most at risk from COVID-19. Their mortality rate increased alarmingly during the pandemic, and this undoubtedly presented an emotionally challenging situation for their caregivers. Methods: The aim of our research was to analyse the professional's current attitudes towards death among the professional caregivers of older people in the health and social care settings and to identify specific aspects of their coping strategies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The standardized Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) questionnaire was used to collect data. The research respondents consisted of direct care workers in social service institutions, nursing homes, and non-medical health care workers in facilities providing health care primarily to geriatric patients (n=180). Results and conclusion: A statistically significant difference was found between the attitudes of health and social workers. Social workers declare more reconciliation and less fear of death. They avoid death less, perceive it less as an escape and are more neutral than health workers. This result was influenced by the factor of faith.