• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.647-658
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was to analyzed the types of subjectivity that elderly who live alone caregivers have about the lonely death. Methods: This study objectified the subjective area by applying the Q methodology. It studied 24 caregivers in H region, who responded to 34 Q sample statements. The method of forced distribution was practiced regarding the results on a 9 points Q sample distribution chart. The collected data was analyzed using PC QUANL program. Results: The caregivers' perception of lonely death has been classified into four types: Type 1 ('type of fate-receptive invitation of lonely death'), Type 2 ('type of afterlife-expectantly invitation of lonely death'), Type 3 ('type of death preparation invitation of lonely death'), and type 4 ('type of rejection of lonely death due to attachment with life'). Conclusion: The present study attempts to provide basic resources for the development of nursing-intervention program to solve the problems with lonely death by grasping and understanding the types of the caregivers' perception of lonely death through which it also aims to yield information necessary to improve the quality of life in their remaining years.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.707-727
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• 2020

This study aims to empirically analyze the role that perception of the probability of lonely death among the elderly people living alone plays in the relationship between perceived social support and preference for institutional care based on Andersen's expanded Behavioral Model (2002). The subjects (n=676) of this study were the elderly people living alone, extracted from the "2018 Seoul Aging Survey." With "perceived social support" as an independent variable, "preference for institutional care" as a dependent variable, and "perception of the probability of lonely death" as a mediator variable, we conducted a Binary Logistic Regression to follow the three steps of analyzing mediation effect, as suggested by Baron and Kenny (1986). The results showed that perceived social support has a negative effect on the preference for institutional care and perception of the probability of lonely death among the elderly people living alone; at the same time, perception of the probability of lonely death was found to have a positive effect on their preference for institutional care. Lastly, perception of the probability of lonely death was found to partially mediate the effect of perceived social support among the elderly people living alone in terms of their preference for institutional care. Based on these findings, the practical implications of this study can be summarized as follows. First, various programs and support should be provided to the elderly people living alone in order to enhance the level of perceived social support, a factor that has been confirmed to increase preference for institutional care among the elderly people living alone. Second, as the perception of the probability of lonely death was confirmed to be a psychosocial factor of the preference for institutional care, we need to promote education and support for older people living alone to prepare them for lonely death. These efforts are expected to form a foundations for implementing a community-based integrated care system, "Aging in Place," which is the policy direction required for older people care.