Lecture Notes on Death and Dying

Jun 6, 2024

Lecture on Death and Dying

Introduction

  • Last chapter of the course: Death
  • Fits well with movies like Cocoon and On Golden Pond
  • Discussion on the understanding and acceptance of death

Understanding Death

  • Various interpretations of death
    • Kaleesh: Death as an organizer of time
    • Children: Death as punishment
    • Transition beliefs: 72% afterlife, 27% reincarnation
    • Death as a loss: Young adults (loss of experiences), Older adults (loss of inner work)

Death Anxiety

  • Common across ages but highest in middle age
  • Religion and Death Anxiety
    • U-shaped relationship: Low/high religiosity = low anxiety, moderate religiosity = high anxiety
  • Gender: Women have higher death anxiety
  • Self-esteem and sense of purpose lower death anxiety
  • Personal anecdote about facing near-death experience

Acceptance of Death

  • Only 45% have a will, while 83% over 65 have one
  • Reminiscence and memoirs: Reflecting on one's life
  • Living wills: Decisions about end-of-life care
  • Organ donation: Comfort levels and willingness

Kubler-Ross Model of Dying

  • Stages of Grieving: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance
    • Importance of understanding these stages
  • Dying are still alive and may have needs
  • Importance of listening to the dying
    • Personal anecdotes about parents' deaths

Preparation for Death

  • Farewells: Early and planned
  • Individual Adaptations to Dying
    • Categories: Positive Avoidance, Fighting Spirit, Stoic Acceptance, Helplessness/Hopelessness, Anxious Preoccupation
    • Psychological response affects disease progress
  • Social support linked to longer life for terminally ill

Hospice and Palliative Care

  • Hospice: Death with dignity, comfort
    • Palliative care: Avoiding life-saving interventions, focusing on comfort
  • Personal anecdote about father's decision to go on Hospice

Physician-Assisted Suicide

  • Legal only in a few places (e.g., Oregon's Death with Dignity Act)
    • Complex feelings and mental state considerations
    • Personal anecdote about cousin's changing mind

Grieving and Rituals

  • Rituals provide meaning and structure
  • Coping influences vary
    • Cognitive and emotional impacts of losing someone close
  • Importance of patience and listening to those grieving and those who are dying

Conclusion

  • End of course on Adulthood and Aging
  • Final quiz on Chapter 11
  • Encouragement to complete course evaluations