Profiles of death attitudes of professionals who support community living older adults

Death is a frequent event for those professionals who work with older adults in day care centers (DCC) and home care services (HCS). This study aimed to profile the attitudes toward death of professionals who support community living older adults. This quantitative cross-sectional observational study used an online survey comprising a sociodemographic and professional questionnaire, the Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) and the Satisfaction with Life scale (SWL). A convenience sample of 201 participants revealed, through cluster analysis three profiles of attitudes toward death: Neutral Acceptance (48.3%), Negative Attitudes (30.3%), and Mixed Attitudes (21.4%). Socio-demographically, only formal education was significantly associated with attitude profiles. Professionals working at DCC have a significantly higher prevalence of neutral attitudes, compared to HCS professionals. It is crucial to invest in the training and professional development of those supporting older adults in the community, particularly addressing negative and mixed attitudes toward death.