Religious Attitudes To The Elderly And Death

Question 1

What is death? (3)

Answer 1

• when someone stops breathing.
• when someones heart stops beating.
• when the soul leaves the body.

Question 2

What do Christians believe? (2)

Answer 2

• when someone dies, God decides nether they spend all eternity in heaven (with God) or hell (without God).
• depends how they have acted throughout their lives.

Question 3

What is Ageism?

What is Palliative Care?

Answer 3

• discrimination and prejudice against he elderly.

- relieving pain without treating the cause of illness.

Question 4

What is The Generation Gap?

What is a Life Support Machine?

Answer 4

• the difference in ideas between people of different generations.
• a machine that keeps people alive when they would otherwise die.

Question 5

What are the problems with being elderly? (4)

Answer 5

• poverty due to not working / relying on pensions and benefits.
• being ill is far more serious (weak body and systems).
• more dependant on others (less mobile).
• loneliness.

Question 6

Who should care for the elderly? (3)

Answer 6

• themselves = many elderly people are strongly independent and prefer to live alone with support (social services, meal on wheels).
• family members = many families prefer to have their elderly members living with them so they can help / support.
• hospices = if an elderly person has a terminal illness, may want to spend their last days / weeks in a hospice with palliative care given.

Question 7

What is Euthanasia?

What is Living Will?

Answer 7

• painless death by agreement of ease suffering (seen as mercy killing / good death).
• document that allows a persons wishes regarding their treatment to happen when they are incapable of making their own decisions.

Question 8

3 types of Euthanasia.

Answer 8

• voluntary = person asks the doctor to end their life.
• non-voluntary = person is too ill to ask but it’s believed to be in their best interests to end their life.
• involuntary = disabled / sick people’s lives are ended without consultation.

Question 9

Passive and Active Euthanasia.

Answer 9

• passive = painkillers are increased not only to control pain but to shorten life.
• active = withholding treatment to deliberately end the life of a person.

Question 10

Religious views on the elderly and death. (3) quotes - (4)

Answer 10

• compassion = showing care in a practical way.
• Sanctity of Life = all life is sacred and given by God.
• Quality of Life = a measure of life’s fulfilment (health, wealth, relationships).
• “honour your father and mother”.
• “you shall not murder”.
• “love one another as I have loved you”.
• “there is no God besides me. I put to death and bring to life”.