A Study on Death Education in Preparation for Old Age Grief and Death from the Perspective of Thanatology (The Study of Death and Dying)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to suggest death education in preparation for grief and death in old age from the perspective of Thanatology (the study of death and dying). In our rapidly aging society, the increase in the number and proportion of the elderly population means that the end of life that the elderly population will soon face, that is, the preparation for death, is urgently needed. The need for education to prepare the elderly for grief and death of the is increasing. A research problem was set. 1) How do participants perceive grief and death in old age? 2) What changes did the participants who received death education prepare for grief and death in old age experience in terms of cognitive and emotional aspects? 3) How do participants who received death education to prepare for grief and death? in old age perceive grief and death?For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted to find out the perceptions of the participants, to observe them both before and after death education. The participants were two people, a 78-year-old man and an 81-year-old woman, and the necessity of death education was suggested by analyzing the cases of the two people through the experiment. When asked what good things and hard things happened in their lives and what they thought of their lives, the two participants answered that they were anxious, regretful, and lamented over some things before death. Through interactive education using the Hoy model, cognitive understanding and emotional attitude changes were observed. Cognitive and emotional changes were clear, while a better understanding of the topic led to positive attitudinal changes. The in-depth interview question was the same: “What good and bad things happened in your life, how do you view your life?” The answer was to look at oneself positively and acknowledge oneself by reconstructing the past rather than regretting it. In addition, the subject changed from denying and despairing of about the given reality and gave an answer reflecting an attitude of acceptance of reality as it is.As a result of the study, after education, the feelings of grief were alleviated and the participants began to see themselves and their environment from a new perspective. In addition, they let go of guilt and became more aware of themselves, their cognitive and emotional attitudes changed to positive ones, and they began to show an attitude of accepting reality. In conclusion, it is suggested that such interactive education is necessary to relieve the grief and despair of the elderly and for the establishment of a social support system, as well as personal support, considering the psychological and emotional situation of the elderly.