Death & Dying

1. Death & Dying Attitudes & Stages Based on the work of Dr. Kubler Ross

2. Attitudes towards Death Death less familiar in 20th century due to social & technological changes life-extending technologies increases chances of survival also 80% of contemporary deaths take place in hospitals, nursing homes and other formal settings death removed from everyday life

3. New attitude towards death has developed i.e., death should be invisible attitude referred to as death denied attitude makes death private rather than public denies mourning - grief expressed only privately community life goes on as if nothing happened includes funeral rites that erase signs of death coffins become caskets morticians beautify dead bodies Attitudes towards Death

4. Most people uncomfortable about death confusing message to children about death Dying people placed in formal setting, few visitors assign care to specialists contact with death is routine & impersonal leave definition of death to medical science the dying often experience a social death before theirbiological death Impact of Attitude

5. Rather not use term die - prefer to use terms such as pass away, no longer with us, gone to heaven. Caskets closed - do not view death Children kept away from funerals and burials Impact of Attitude

6. Death awareness movement emerged in 70’s lack opportunities to learn about death. Pushed into facing death & dying due to contemporary social issues; abortion, AIDS, drug abuse, & alcoholism. Movement challenged isolation of dying, promoted idea of the good death dying person surrounded by family & friends minimal technological interference lead to development of death education. Death Awareness Movement

7. The Dying Process Research of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross has influenced how we accept deaths. Kubler-Ross worked within a psychoanalytic framework interviewed 200 dying patients She proposed 5 distinct stages through which individuals pass.

8. Stages are distinct but not necessarily progressive, likely to overlap Denial is the 1st stage “Not me” refusal to believe news of impending death Anger 2nd stage - “Why me?” anger likely to be displaced on caregivers Bargaining is the 3rd stage - “Yes me but...” - bargaining with a higher being for more time. Kubler-Ross

9. Depression - 4th stage - “Yes me” - begin to morn acknowledges and mourns impending loss represents natural grieving process of separation from loved ones and life Acceptance, the final stage, reached only if individual allowed to express and work out earlier feelings. Kubler-Ross

10. Lifelong Growth growth is still possible for the dying person apologies, regrets, forgiveness & to express love. also need time for introspection, reminiscing & affirming beliefs. These tasks require growth & change Conclusion