DEATH DISTRESS AND END OF LIFE IN OLDER ADULTS LIVING ALONE

Introduction: Even if it is not perceived as such in real life, death is a natural part of life. Many factors, such as age, medical history, religious beliefs, and culture, affect the perception of death and cause distress. Investigating the factors that cause death distress in older adults is a prerequisite for developing support mechanisms. This study aimed to determine whether living alone is one of the conditions that causes death distress. Materials and Method: This descriptive study was conducted. A sociodemographic information form created by the researchers and the Death Distress Scale were used. After obtaining the necessary institutional and ethical permission, face-to-face data were collected from 1189 older adults registered at a university's aging studies application and research center. Results: The Death Distress Scale mean total scores of older adults was 28.18 +/- 4.14. The scale scores of the older adults living alone were found to be statistically significantly higher (p <= 0.01). The scale scores of the women were significantly higher than those of the men (p < 0. 01). Older adults living alone had higher rates of pet ownership. In both groups, those with pets had significantly lower Death Distress Scale scores than those without pets. Conclusion: Social awareness is important in reducing the death stress experienced by older adults who live alone because of the loss of their relatives, living far away, and other reasons. Activities should be conducted to socialize and improve the quality of life of older adults.