Research Paper on Elderly Perception of Death and Illness in Singapore

This research paper, focusing on the perception of elderly people facing death and illness, investigates the challenges faced by the aging population, particularly in Singapore. It explores the significance of community support, the impact of loneliness, and the role of palliative care provided by organizations like Assisi Hospice. The study reviews existing literature, including studies on death anxiety, cognitive dissonance, and spiral dynamics, to understand the multifaceted experiences of elderly individuals living alone. The research employs interpretivism and inductive approaches, utilizing descriptive and qualitative methods, including surveys and data analysis, to gather and interpret data. It highlights the importance of addressing the needs of the elderly and offers potential solutions to improve their quality of life during their later years. The paper emphasizes the importance of understanding the aging population and the need for increased support, services, and community engagement to combat loneliness and improve the overall well-being of elderly individuals.

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.

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Meanings of being old, living on one’s own and suffering from incurable cancer in rural
Norway
In the view of Janice (2015), the studies are conducted through interviews indicated the feelings
of elderly living alone and illness. It relies on their own or support from relatives and neighbors.
It is stated that experienced being ignored as well as, seen as burden often the sense of no worth.
In contrast to this, Mugdha (2019) evaluated that structural analysis was performed to address
how the alone elderly felt during times of complexity. In opposed to this, all interviewees depict
strong will and hope regarding survival. But, because of the long period of being ignored, they
require specialized to be by their side as well as, instruct them to light.
Exploring Death Anxiety among Elderly People
As per the opinion of Carel (2018), death anxiety is illustrated as fear of death as well as, dying
that individuals experience in their daily lives due to the anticipation of the state where an
individual is dead. In addition to this, death of elderly people is associated with experiences and
their reaction and attitude with respect to death are not only prospected to persuade their attitudes
with respect to own aging procedures but also, it may affect the quality of life. In contrast to
this, Azaiza et al. (2010) evaluated that there is higher death anxiety between those in care
institution as compared to those who were living alone in their homes. Higher death anxiety can
be related to physical and mental frailty, lower extents regarding social assistance, a poorer
intention in life as well as, lower self-esteem between the elderly individuals (Marjolein,
Margaret, Lilian, Mirjam, Sara and Karolijne, 2012).
Key Concepts & Theories
Cognitive Dissonance

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Mozaffarian et al. (2015) stated that cognitive dissonance theory is used to propose the correct
data and also aid to develop adequate cognitive dissonance in order to permit the reconsideration
of attitudes. In addition to this, feasible data regarding elderly population may perform with
societal expectations that an individual faces with their own ageism. In contrast to this, Goll
Charlesworth Scior & Stott (2015) stated that theory related to reasoned action provides the
insights into whether elderly people would subsequently transform their behaviour to be
congruent with the new attitudes. When an individual predicts favourable results and has
provided social assistance for a new attitude. In addition, elderly people would prospect to act
differently. In addition to this, maintenance related to non-ageist attitude and new behaviour
may then rely on whether new behaviour and attitudes are met with unfavourable and favourable
consequences according to operant conditioning.
Graves Value Model: Spiral Dynamics Theory

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According to Valtorta et. al., (2016), spiral dynamics is a model that illustrates the evolution of
human consciousness. Moreover, spiral dynamics states that human consciousness entails both
collectively and individually via a series regarding stages. In addition, this theory illustrates that
just as biological origin; this theory naturally chooses the benefits of genes for an organism to
thrive, the sociological origin for choosing advantageous memes for the society for thriving.
Research method
Research philosophy
Interpretivism research philosophy would be used to resolve the research concern. This
philosophy would be selected as it would be supportive for capturing the real phenomenon
regarding research concern. This philosophy would be selected with the intention of this
investigation as it evaluates the elements of the investigation. This philosophy would be chosen
as it combines the interest of human interest in an investigation. According to this philosophy, a
researcher presumes that access to reality is only obtained through social constructions such as
instruments, languages, consciousness, together with shared meanings (Case & Deaton, 2015).
Research approach

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Inductive research approach would be implemented by an investigator as it uses the research
questions in order to narrow the scope of the study. It is selected to effectively consider the
proposed observations and theories with respect to research concerns. Along with this, no
hypothesis would be implemented in this investigation at the starting point. Moreover, the
researcher would be free about changing the direction for investigation after initiation related to
the investigation process (Drucker, 2017).
Research type
In this investigation, the descriptive investigation would be applied in this investigation that has
an intention for casting the light about current concerns through the process of data gathering. It
makes competent an investigator for describing the issues in more detail without attracting this
tool. This research type is practiced in assessing some aspects of the occurrence. It is also used
for detailing the features and attitude of respondents (Shorter, 2017).
Research design
In this investigation, qualitative research tool is practiced for assessing and measuring the level
of occurrences as per the numbers and calculation. Moreover, questions associated with how
often and how many are asked related to quantitative investigation. This research design will rely
on statistical facts and figures (Czaja, 2019). Moreover, it emphasizes on gathering the statistical
data and considers the opinion of participants regarding research issues. This investigation is
relied on in natural science strategy and having the objectivist aspect regarding social reality on
the perception of elderly people going through death and illness alone (Turkle, 2017).
Research strategy
Under this investigation, survey tool is practiced to collect the deep knowledge associated with
the perception of elderly people going through death and illness alone. Survey technique is

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regarding questioning with the individual on a topic such as the perception of elderly people
going through death and illness alone as well as, explaining their responses. Under this
investigation, survey technique is used for collecting the high amount of information within least
time. It is advantageous for defining some aspects and features of populations. It can be applied
to test the hypothesis about the nature of associations with respect to population (Smith, et. al.,
2017).
Data collection method
In this research, several sources are implemented to gather the data by using primary and
secondary data collection method. Primary data is related to data that is developed at first time
by the researcher through experience with direct efforts of an individual, specifically with the
purpose of addressing the investigation concerns (Segal, 2018). Moreover, primary data
collection could be moderately costly because the researcher is obtained via an agency or
company itself. There is a need for manpower and investment. The data collection is under
supervision as well as direct control of an investigator (Holt-Lunstad, et. al., 2015).
The data is collected through a tool like a survey through a questionnaire. Moreover, secondary
data collection technique will be applied in this investigation as it considers the second-hand
information that is already collected and published via any person rather than collecting through
candidates. This is a readily obtainable form of information that is collected through different
sources like academic publications, websites, journal articles, and textbooks (Biswas, et. al.,
2015).
Sampling method
In this research, a simple random probability sampling method will be applied for choosing the
sample on a random basis where, each participant among the population has chances and

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probability of being selected in the sample. This method is beneficial for eliminating the biasness
from the investigation. For completing the research, 200 elderly people who live alone are
chosen for collecting the data about research concern such as the perception of elderly people
going through death and illness alone (Bauman, et. al., 2016).
Data analysis method
Quantitative data analysis will be applied in this research in order to measure different variables
such as the perception of elderly people and death and illness. This data assessment is associated
with finding facts and figures for identifying the research questions that are created at the
primary stage of the research process. The same information within the data set can be evaluated
in a different way, therefore, it is effective for making a fair judgment. Moreover, the findings of
the literature review are used for supporting the primary information. Secondary data are
combined into data assessment in logical as well as unbiased manner (Devik, et. al., 2013).
Research limitation
Following would be the research limitation of this research:
Development of research aims and objectives
An investigator will create broader aim and objectives hence there is a requirement for
specifying where the creation of aims and objectives could be narrowed hence the extent of focus
regarding investigation could be gained (Ong, Uchino, & Wethington, 2016).
Application of data gathering technique
Since, an investigator does not have higher experience in conducting a primary investigation,
therefore, there are higher chances that the nature of implementation of data collection tool is not
consistent (Turkle, 2017).
Sample size

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The sample size is depending on nature related to the research concern. In this investigation, the
sample size is too small therefore statistical technique could not be effective in terms of
identifying the effective relationships within the set of data. Hence, an investigator should focus
on larger sample size in a further investigator in order to obtain accurate results. The significance
associated with sample size is higher in the qualitative investigation as compared to a
quantitative investigation (Mozaffarian, et. al., 2015).
Lack of past investigation on this research concern
A literature review is an important aspect of research as it is significant with respect to
identifying the scope of work. It has been performed in the research field. Literature review
findings are executed as a basis of the researcher in terms of accomplishing the initially
developed investigation objectives (Valtorta, et. al., 2016).
Scope of discussions
An investigator can focus on this aspect due to research limitation despite of selecting the
particular research area. Since, an investigator does not have higher experience in order to
conduct the research as well as, developing the academic papers with a larger size. Therefore, the
scope and depth of discussion in this paper could be compromised to a different extent as
compared to works with an experienced researcher (Case & Deaton, 2015).
Potential ethical considerations
The researcher will not harm to respondents in any manner. They would focus on the dignity of
participants by offering them preferences. Furthermore, any kinds of misleading information
would be avoided as well as, partiality would be eliminated in primary data. In addition,
voluntary consideration of respondent in the investigation is effective for ethically to meet the

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research objectives. The participant should have the right to withdraw from the survey at any
time (Case, & Deaton, 2015).
Participants can respond as per their informed consent. Along with this, anonymity as well as,
the privacy of respondents is significant for ethically complete the research. In each paragraph,
the researcher would give creditability to the author who gave such information in the form of
referencing and in-text citation. Moreover, an investigator can incorporate the data protection act
1998 to keep the privacy of research participants (Turkle, 2017).