Perception of death in older adults experiencing powerlessness

This study was designed as qualitative research to examine the perception of death among older adults experiencing powerlessness. Powerlessness levels were assessed in 153 older adults in the internal medicine units of a tertiary-level university hospital. semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 older adults who had high levels of perceived powerlessness and agreed to participate. Qualitative data were analyzed using the Framework Method. The findings showed that the perception of death was organized under three main themes: the concept of death, the role of powerlessness in the perception of death, and coping strategies related to death perception. As powerlessness increased, death was perceived as closer, and the focus of fear shifted from death itself to the dying process. While motivation to continue living weakened in some participants, individual, spiritual, and social coping strategies played a balancing role in this process.