Zusammenfassung der Ressource
The Elderly and Death
- Problems Faced by the Elderly
- Expectation to retire but many don't want to.
- Less mobile and more dependent on others.
- Many rely on state pension, poverty is a serious issue.
- Loneliness.
- Often catch age related illnesses.
- Feelings of worthlessness as they're not contributing to society.
- Feel like a burden on family and friends.
- Who Should Care for the Elderly?
- Family/Friends
- 'honour your mother and father.'
- Should be seen as a privilege.
- Respectful.
- Should be supported.
- Good rebirth.
- Community
- Sheltered Housing
- Flat with communal area.
- Has security for emergencies.
- Elderly have some independence and privacy.
- Some may not socialise.
- Residential Homes
- Planned activities
- Planned meals.
- Allows them to socialise easily.
- A home where the elderly who are unable to be independent go.
- Not personal.
- Busy.
- Expensive.
- Hospitals
- Has correct treatment and help for severely ill.
- Where the severely ill elderly go.
- Bad atmosphere, surrounded by death.
- No socialising.
- 'Duty to consider the best options.'
- Live Alone
- Allows independence.
- Euthanasia
- 'Gentle death/mercy killing of someone with a terminal illness.'
- Voluntary : Ill person asks for help to die.
- Non-Voluntary - Decision is made for them in their best interests.
- Passive: Withdrawal of life support/medication.
- Active: Lethal injection or overdose.
- For
- Free will.
- Act of love not violence.
- Die with dignity.
- Private matter, shouldn't be
interfered with if is not hurting
anyone else.
- Pets are put down, why aren't humans
given the same kindness.
- Right intention.
- You can mourn without seeing them suffer.
- Against
- Chance of recovery.
- God has a plan. 'In your book were written.'
- Upsets family.
- May lead to families killing off elderly and
using sadness as an excuse.
- Life is a gift, you can't play God.
- Dying people cannot make rational decisions.
- Goes against the first precept of not harming.
- Hippocratic Oath - doctors must try and preserve life.
- Bad karma.
- Family members may be pushed into a decision.
- 'Thou shall not kill.'
- Suffering is a part of life, has to be accepted.
- Jesus healed, Christians should help where possible.
- "Do to others as you would have them do to you" Both
FOR and AGAINST.
- Hospice Movement
- House dedicated to caring for terminally ill people and preparing their family for the death.
- Differences from a hospital.
- Hospital
- Government funded.
- No socialising.
- Focuses more on treatment.
- Treats multiple illnesses, some are not terminal.
- Performs surgery.
- Hospice
- Encourages the patient to live.
- Receive luxuries eg. manicures.
- Encouraged to get out of bed.
- Higher staff:patient ratio.
- Palliative care.
- Death
- End of life.
- Determined when brain stops functioning.
- When the soul leaves the body for the afterlife.
- Sanctity of Life: All life is God given and therefore sacred.
- Quality of Life: measure of fulfilment, how enjoyable or happy a persons life is.
- Value of Life: value of a persons life over and above their physical value.
- Life after Death
- Christians
- Heaven: Free of Sin
- State of being with God.
- Purgatory: Venial Sins (will be purged of these and go
to heaven).
- Hell: Mortal Sins
- Separated from God.
- Idea of life after death comforts the dying.
- Religious
- Something better to come.
- Not end of life but a new beginning.
- Reward for a faithful life.
- Elderly are close to death, more likely to think
about the afterlife.
- Non-Religious
- May be seen as a punishment instead of reward.
- Something not real cannot provide comfort.
- Should comfort all, not just the elderly.
- Buddhists
- Reincarnation.
- Life Support
- Keeping someone alive using
artificial methods - feeding,
breathing.
- Should it be turned off?
- Personal choice.