Aging and Dying in a Rural Lowland Area of Laos : A Consideration of the Process of Creating a “Good Death” Together

In developing as well as developed regions, the phenomenon of aging populations cannot be ignored. Endeavors to maintain quality of life in old age and at the end of life are more important than ever before. However, aging and dying in developing regions have never been studied suffi ciently. This chapter describes the social processes of aging and dying in Laos, the poorest and most resource-poor country in Asia. Descriptive data on aging and dying in a rural lowland area of Laos are presented, with a particular focus on the relationships between caregivers and the elderly and dying. Section 1 introduces the problem addresssed in this chapter. Research context and methodology are outlined in section 2. Section 3 describes the process and experience of aging and caring for the elderly, while section 4 discusses the spaces and places of dying and end-of-life care, and especially the living arrangements and social relationship. Section 5 interprets local understandings of aging and dying. Finally, given these accounts and analyses, the discussion of aging and dying in developed regions is revisited briefl y.