The Perception of Elderly People Going Through Death and Illness Alone

Running head: RESEARCH PAPER
The perception of elderly people going through death and illness alone

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Table of Contents
Background of the Company............................................................................................... 3
Research background........................................................................................................ 3
Significance of research..................................................................................................... 4
Home Alone: Older Adults in Singapore.............................................................................4
Meanings of being old, living on one’s own and suffering from incurable cancer in rural Norway......5
Exploring Death Anxiety among Elderly People...................................................................5
Key Concepts & Theories............................................................................................... 5
Cognitive Dissonance................................................................................................. 5
Graves Value Model: Spiral Dynamics Theory..................................................................6
Research method............................................................................................................. 7
Potential ethical considerations.......................................................................................... 11
References................................................................................................................... 13

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Background of the Company
Assisi Hospice was developed in the year of 1969 through Franciscan Missionaries about Divine
Motherhood Sisters. It facilitates the palliative care to patients with life-limiting illness at the
time of caring for them and their families in spite of age, faith, race as well as, financial position.
Assisi Hospice is a leading hospital in Singapore that offers the whole continuum of inpatient,
home care services and daycare services (Assisi Hospice, 2016).
Research background
It is addressed that elderly Singaporeans who live alone are 1.7 times more prospected to die
prematurely as compared to counterparts who live with others. Consequently, they can easily go
via death as well as illness. Elderly who are living solo has a lack of significance in the
community. Many elderly forces to go through their later years are living alone due to a high
aging population, high divorce rates, and low birth rates due to dynamic family structure. It is
addressed that older Singaporeans who lived alone possibly gave high severe illness because of
poor treatment, support, and care because data indicates that they did not have more chronic
diseases as compared to those who lived with others (Strait Times, 2019).
The future society, as well as the economy, can focus on high aging population in Singapore and
the possible solution that would be researched. It was in part because of lack or loss of spouse
particularly between men. Elderly men, in specific, are almost three times as prospect to die
earlier as compared to those who live with others. It is addressed that the elderly woman who is
living alone meanwhile, there are 1.2 times are more prospected to die prior to those who exist
with others (Today online, 2019).
This investigation also illustrated that elderly people who survive alone were about twice as a
prospect to be depressed or sense lonely than those who lived with others. It is the first study

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regarding the mortality risk of elderly living alone that has been performed in Singapore (Ong,
Uchino, & Wethington, 2016).
Social employees stated that Singapore should effectively engage the elderly hence, living alone
becomes a housing concern as well as, need not mean that seniors are without support. Managers
recommended that more elderly services be considered in their homes. Employees should
develop more reachable services, be acquaintance them in their houses and kept practices near
their blocks. Hence, they are more transparent to intended welfare companies that could be
supportive for managing their health issues (Missler, et. al., 2012).
Significance of research
This research is significant to better comprehend the aging population condition in Singapore. It
would be effective for removing stereotypes between the elderly regarding livings and even
dying alone. This research would be significant for encouraging the said community to accept as
well as, enjoy living together with, stay united.
Literature review
Home Alone: Older Adults in Singapore
As per the view of Devik Enmarker Wiik & Hellzèn (2013), there is a proportion of older adults
that lived alone and increased since the year 2000. Furthermore, a high percentage of
Singaporeans were 65 years as well as, older grew through 6.6% to 8.9% (about 41,200 to
460,000 adults, offered through the department of statistics Singapore, 2015). In contrast to this,
Linton Gubhaju and Chan (2018) stated that older Singaporean women live alone as compared to
men. Because of longer life expectancy of women as well as, higher possibilities of remaining
single together with, being widowed.