This Blog was established to provide a platform of research reviews pertaining to Social Work with aging populations.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
chaper 14 Blog #7
This chapter deals with death and dying something most people donot like to discuss, but the reality, is that death does happen. According to Hillier and Barrow they say we are "a death-denying society our words, attitudes, and practices suggest that ours is a death-denying society, have you ever used the word "died" and had the uncomfortable feeling that those with whom you were talking considered the word too direct and in bad taste? "passed away" ( Hillier and Barrow. p. 367). Working in the funeral home business for many years most people will refere to the term passed away, or passed on they feel better using those choice of words.
According to the arthor death avoidance is not unique to modern times, howver, dealing with the unknowable, whatever its outcome, is anxiety producing for humans. likewise "denial of death is possible on a grand scale now not because we choose to deny it more than our ancestors did, but because we have greter institutional resource for helping us to avoid its reality" (p368). As a funeral profession most people fear death, as well as even going into a funeral home or talking about death they think it will bring on death in some way. Death will come so it is important too live life to the fullest while you are in good shape or health,
so enjoy life.
I agree that death is highly uncomfortable to discuss often times, especially around older people. I took a human lifespan class and this topic was covered thoroughly, and like the chapter says, the more we know and the better we understand the topic, the more comfortable we feel thinking and talking about it. It's true that death faces us all, so instead of hiding from it, I believe people of all ages need to accept the fact that it will happen, and by doing this we can all better prepare for the future. Some family friends work in the funeral profession and they feel more than comfortable discussing death and the after-life care before burial etc. If more people were aware of this, I believe death would be less intimidating to think about.
ReplyDeleteI also agree, many individuals are not educated on death and dying. This makes it difficult to accept the inevitable outcome that every individual will face. The book also talks about how even medical professionals, who ar around dying individuals everyday, are not trained in death. Their training only focuses on saving or preserving life. I think that if more people were to learn and understand death, then it would make this subject more acceptable. It is never easy to lose and let go of someone you know, but knowledge about could make it easier.
ReplyDelete