Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship between perceptions of a good death and readiness for well-dying among middle-aged and elderly populations. By doing so, it seeks to provide foundational data for designing content and programs that support effective well-dying experiences for these age groups, ultimately proposing design solutions to improve the quality of well-dying experiences.
Background: As South Korea enters a super-aged society, there is an increasing need for awareness and preparation regarding well-dying. However, compared to other advanced countries, Korea's support systems for improving the quality of life for the elderly remain insufficient. In light of the growing elderly population, it is crucial to develop diverse well-dying programs to promote and support well-dying experiences.
Method: This study used a questionnaire to analyze good death type and readiness for well-dying of 50 middle-aged (ages 40~64) and elderly (ages 65+). The questionnaire was conducted based on previously studied definitions of good death type and well-dying assessment tools. After collecting responses to the questionnaire, an analysis was conducted to determine the differences type. Then, according to the types, in-depth interviews were conducted to identify the participants' needs and expectations for well-dying. Based on these findings, we proposed a service strategy to promote well-dying in middle-aged and elderly people.
Results: As a result of the analysis, the degree of well-dying preparation and attitude differed according to age and good death type. In particular, unlike previous studies, the new types of good death was derived and defined in the middle-aged and the elderly, and based on this, the well-dying values and preparations of the age group were analyzed in more detail. The study proposed a strategy for each type by visualizing the difference between the well-dying values and the degree of preparation according to each type based on the average score of each age group. In addition, we designed a customized well-being strategy flowchart that local communities and related organizations can practically use to support the systematic and effective operation of content provision.
Conclusion: This study proposes a strategy based on visual assessment that accurately informs areas where users may lack well-being preparation. By emphasizing these areas, we can develop a well-dying program tailored to the characteristics of each user's type, thereby contributing to the improvement of individual well-dying awareness and the creation of an environment to prepare for well-dying. This will improve the quality of life for middle-aged and elderly people in an aging society.
Application: The findings are expected to contribute to the development of welldying programs and content that enhance the quality of life for middle-aged and elderly.