PSY313 UNIT 2 LEC 3 Flashcards
what are the different patterns of dying
Sudden death - when a person a health and there is vitality - there is some kind of accident or injury that occurs and death happens immediately
Steady decline - begin at full vitality and health decrease over time at a constant rate - this is typically the pattern we see with individuals who have progressive illness.
Period of variable vitality - ‘near death experiences’ - also tends to happen with disease - but not ones that are necessarily considered terminal. Or progressive (cardiovascular disease) - but certain cardiac events can lead to death. / reduce vitality.
What is the definition of death?
the irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions; (when you heart and lungs can no longer function) and is a result of whole brain death - the entirety of the brain does not function to support lung and heart function
What is the crude mortality rate?
The crude mortality rate is the total number of deaths within a year per population. It provides a basic measure of mortality in a population without accounting for any specific factors like age or disease
Why might the crude mortality rate appear higher in some countries like Canada?
Factors such as a larger and aging population can increase the crude mortality rate, as older populations are more likely to experience higher mortality.
What is the age-standardized mortality rate, and what has been its trend?
The age-standardized mortality rate adjusts for the age of the population to provide a fair comparison over time or between regions. In many places, including Canada, this rate is decreasing, indicating improvements in health and longevity.
How does marital status relate to mortality?
People who are married tend to live longer than those who are not. This correlation may be due to factors like social support, as having a spouse can provide emotional and practical support that contributes to longer life.
What are some broad factors that affect mortality rates?
Key factors include health status, social inequality (like education, income, and employment), and societal supports. These factors interact to influence overall life expectancy.
How is death considered beyond its medical definition?
Death is also a social and cultural experience, shaped by each culture’s ‘death ethos’—the expectations and practices surrounding death, including how people should behave in the face of death and mourning rituals.
How does language reflect cultural attitudes towards death?
In many English-speaking countries, language used to describe death (e.g., “passed away” instead of “died”) reflects a cultural discomfort with the topic, indicating that death is often seen as a taboo or sensitive subject.
What is the sociocultural experience of death?
Death derives its meaning from how a culture interprets and processes the end of life, influenced by funeral rituals, beliefs about the afterlife, language about death, and artistic representations.
What historical changes have affected Western perceptions of death?
Historically, death was a natural and community-involved event. Modern Western culture has shifted towards making death less visible, removing it from home and familiar settings.
What are the stages of dying according to Kübler-Ross’ 1969 book?
The stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These are experienced variably and can occur in any order.
What does “death with dignity” entail?
It involves allowing a dying person autonomy in decisions about end-of-life care, aiming to minimize physical dependency and loss of control over bodily functions.
How has the concept of social death evolved in contemporary culture?
Social death occurs when people feel they are already dead because they are isolated or when society treats them as if they were invisible, especially after receiving a terminal diagnosis.
What is the significance of understanding cultural death ethos?
Recognizing a culture’s death ethos helps understand its specific practices and attitudes towards death, including expected behaviors during mourning and the treatment of the dying.
What is the purpose of providing family and close friends with advanced directives
Advanced directives help reduce anxiety among dying individuals and their families, ensure the individual’s desires are met, and reduce the burden on family members by clearly outlining wishes for medical intervention, asset distribution, and funeral rituals.
What considerations should be included in advanced directives?
Considerations should include desires for full medical intervention, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, palliative care preferences, funeral rituals, and decisions about asset division and decision-making power
What role does palliative care play in death with dignity?
Palliative care focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, offering physical, psychological, and social support to improve quality of life for both the patient and their family. It can take place at home or in hospice.
How does hospice care differ from hospital care?
Unlike hospitals that aim to treat illness, hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life, often improving patients’ physical appearance, reducing anxiety and depression, and supporting families without trying to prolong life.
What are the eligibility criteria for medical assistance in dying in Ontario?
Eligibility requires the individual to be 18 or older, capable of making health care decisions, suffering from a grievous and irremediable medical condition, experiencing intolerable suffering, and must give informed consent.
What are some legal aspects of medically assisted dying?
Medically assisted dying, including voluntary euthanasia and medically assisted suicide, is legal in several countries, including Canada. It involves stringent eligibility criteria to ensure that only those truly suffering and beyond the help of curative treatment can opt for this.
How does cultural perception affect discussions about death?
Cultural expectations and death anxiety influence how openly societies discuss death, often leading to avoidance of the topic until it becomes personally relevant in middle age, despite its importance.
What is bereavement?
Bereavement is the period after a loss during which grief is experienced and mourning occurs.
How is grief different from mourning?
Grief is the internal emotional suffering experienced after a loss, whereas mourning is the external expression of grief and is highly dependent on cultural norms.
What does conventional wisdom say about processing grief?
Conventional wisdom suggests that bereaved individuals need to work through their grief and eventually detach from the deceased, a process often referred to as “grief work.”
What is the attachment bereavement theory
Attachment bereavement suggests that thinking about the deceased and remembering happy moments can be beneficial, challenging the notion that detachment is necessary for healing.
What are common physical and emotional reactions associated with grief?
Common reactions include anger, sadness, anxiety, loneliness, guilt, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, loss of energy, sleep issues, digestive symptoms, and decreased immunity.
What is the dual process model of coping with bereavement?
This model suggests that individuals oscillate between loss-oriented stressors (emotional) and restoration-oriented stressors (task-oriented), taking time off from grieving to attend to daily life and adapt to new roles.
How does culture influence the grieving process?
Cultural expectations shape how grief is expressed, including practices like whether to stay at home or go out, and what to wear during mourning periods.
What is successful aging according to Rowe and Kahn?
Successful aging is defined by the absence of disease and disability, high cognitive and physical function, and active engagement in life.
How does the World Health Organization define active aging
Active aging means making the most of opportunities for good health, staying involved in your community, and feeling safe as you get older, all while keeping your independence.
What does the “selective optimization with compensation” model suggest about aging?
This idea suggests that as we get older, we change our goals and focus on maintaining our abilities and avoiding losses, aiming for a dignified aging process.
How do older adults use social comparison in aging?
Older adults often feel better about their own situation by comparing themselves to those who may not be doing as well.
What is the “paradox of well-being” for older adults?
Even though older adults might face physical and mental declines, many still feel very happy and content with their lives.
Does happiness change as we get older?
Research shows that overall happiness levels are pretty stable as we age, but the reasons for happiness can vary.
What does Baltes’ theory say about aging
Baltes’ theory says aging involves managing growth and dealing with losses effectively, focusing on using resources wisely to cope with changes.
