{"id":402,"date":"2014-09-29T21:23:50","date_gmt":"2014-09-29T21:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/lifespandevelopment1x1\/?post_type=chapter&p=402"},"modified":"2024-04-30T19:54:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T19:54:28","slug":"introduction-to-death-and-dying","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-lifespandevelopment\/chapter\/introduction-to-death-and-dying\/","title":{"raw":"Why It Matters: Death and Dying","rendered":"Why It Matters: Death and Dying"},"content":{"raw":"[caption id=\"attachment_545\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"263\"]\"A<\/a> Figure 1<\/strong>. Some form of marker is used in cemeteries to identify who is buried there. Headstones such as this one may vary by religion with prayers and symbols, as well as the deceased's name, years of birth and death, and family relationships. More elaborate stones and statues often reflect family prominence or wealth. Photo Courtesy Robert Paul Young[\/caption]\r\n

Why learn about experiences and emotions related to death and dying?<\/h2>\r\n

\"Everything has to die,\" he told her during a telephone conversation. \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

\"I want you to know how much I have enjoyed being with you, having you as my friend, and\u00a0confidant and what a good father you have been to me.\u00a0Thank you so much.\" she told him.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

\"You are entirely welcome.\" he replied.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

He had known for years that smoking will eventually kill him.\u00a0But he never expected that lung cancer would take his life so quickly or be so painful.\u00a0A diagnosis in late summer was followed with radiation and chemotherapy during which time there were moments of hope interspersed with discussions about where his wife might want to live after his death and whether or not he would have a blood count adequate to let him proceed with his next treatment.\u00a0Hope and despair exist side by side.\u00a0After a few months, depression and quiet sadness preoccupied him although he was always willing to relieve others by reporting that he 'felt a little better' if they asked.\u00a0He returned home in January after one of his many hospital stays and soon grew worse.\u00a0Back in the hospital, he was told of possible treatment options to delay his death.\u00a0He asked his family members what they wanted him to do and then announced that he wanted to go home.\u00a0He was ready to die.\u00a0He returned home.\u00a0Sitting in his favorite chair and being fed his favorite food gave way to lying in the hospital bed in his room and rejecting all food.\u00a0Eyes closed and no longer talking, he surprised everyone by joining in and singing \"Happy birthday\" to his wife, son, and daughter-in-law who all had birthdays close together.\u00a0A pearl necklace he had purchased 2 months earlier in case he died before his wife's birthday was retrieved and she told him how proud she would be as she wore it.\u00a0He kissed her once and then again as she said goodbye.\u00a0He died a few days later.[footnote]Overstreet, Laura. Personal Notes. Psyc 200 Lifespan Psychology.[\/footnote]<\/em><\/p>\r\nA dying process that allows an individual to make choices about treatment, to say goodbyes and to take care of final arrangements is what many people hope for.\u00a0Such a death might be considered a \"good death.\" But of course, many deaths do not occur in this way.\u00a0Not all deaths include such a dialogue with family members or being able to die in familiar surroundings; people may die suddenly and alone, or people may leave home and never return.\u00a0Children sometimes precede parents in death; wives precede husbands, and the homeless are bereaved by strangers.\r\n\r\nIn this module, we will look at death and dying, grief and bereavement, palliative care, and hospice to better understand these last stages of life.","rendered":"

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

Figure 1<\/strong>. Some form of marker is used in cemeteries to identify who is buried there. Headstones such as this one may vary by religion with prayers and symbols, as well as the deceased’s name, years of birth and death, and family relationships. More elaborate stones and statues often reflect family prominence or wealth. Photo Courtesy Robert Paul Young<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Why learn about experiences and emotions related to death and dying?<\/h2>\n

“Everything has to die,” he told her during a telephone conversation. \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

“I want you to know how much I have enjoyed being with you, having you as my friend, and\u00a0confidant and what a good father you have been to me.\u00a0Thank you so much.” she told him.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

“You are entirely welcome.” he replied.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

He had known for years that smoking will eventually kill him.\u00a0But he never expected that lung cancer would take his life so quickly or be so painful.\u00a0A diagnosis in late summer was followed with radiation and chemotherapy during which time there were moments of hope interspersed with discussions about where his wife might want to live after his death and whether or not he would have a blood count adequate to let him proceed with his next treatment.\u00a0Hope and despair exist side by side.\u00a0After a few months, depression and quiet sadness preoccupied him although he was always willing to relieve others by reporting that he ‘felt a little better’ if they asked.\u00a0He returned home in January after one of his many hospital stays and soon grew worse.\u00a0Back in the hospital, he was told of possible treatment options to delay his death.\u00a0He asked his family members what they wanted him to do and then announced that he wanted to go home.\u00a0He was ready to die.\u00a0He returned home.\u00a0Sitting in his favorite chair and being fed his favorite food gave way to lying in the hospital bed in his room and rejecting all food.\u00a0Eyes closed and no longer talking, he surprised everyone by joining in and singing “Happy birthday” to his wife, son, and daughter-in-law who all had birthdays close together.\u00a0A pearl necklace he had purchased 2 months earlier in case he died before his wife’s birthday was retrieved and she told him how proud she would be as she wore it.\u00a0He kissed her once and then again as she said goodbye.\u00a0He died a few days later.[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A dying process that allows an individual to make choices about treatment, to say goodbyes and to take care of final arrangements is what many people hope for.\u00a0Such a death might be considered a “good death.” But of course, many deaths do not occur in this way.\u00a0Not all deaths include such a dialogue with family members or being able to die in familiar surroundings; people may die suddenly and alone, or people may leave home and never return.\u00a0Children sometimes precede parents in death; wives precede husbands, and the homeless are bereaved by strangers.<\/p>\n

In this module, we will look at death and dying, grief and bereavement, palliative care, and hospice to better understand these last stages of life.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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CC licensed content, Original<\/div>