YAŞLILIKTA ÖLÜM KAVRAMI VE HEMŞİRELİK YAKLAŞIMI

OZET Olum, yasayan tum organizmalarin paylastigi evrensel bir gercektir. Korkutucu ama kacinilmaz bir olaydir. Kisi olumun kacinilmaz oldugunun bilincindedir. Bilemedigi sey ise, olumun nasil ve ne zaman olacagidir. Bu nedenledir ki olum, korkulan ve hakkinda konusulmasindan kacinilan bir kavramdir. Olumun anlami, yasamin farkli donemlerine ve kisisel deneyimlere gore degisik bicimde algilanir. Okul oncesi cocukta olumle ilgili belirgin bir kavram gelismediginden, onun icin korkulacak tek sey, ana babasindan ayrilma tehdididir. Ilkokul caginda ve daha sonraki yillarda ergen icin olum, gelismekte olan iliskilerini ve kimlik gelisimini engelleyecek bir durum olarak algilanir. Yetiskin icin olum, kendisini zevk ve sorumluluktan alikoyan, benligine indirilen bir darbe ve haksizlik olarak gorulur. Verimli bir yasam geciren yaslilar ise olumu, uzun bir yasamin “dogal sonu” olarak karsilar. Olume en yakin bireyler olarak algilanan yaslilara yonelik hemsirelik bakimi, ozel bir oneme sahiptir. Hemsireler yasli birey ve ailesinin olum korkusunu ele almada, olume hazirlanmasinda ve olumu kabul etmesinde onemli rol oynamalidirlar. Anahtar kelimeler: Yaslilik, olum tutumu, hemsirenin rolu. ABSTRACT The Concept of Death in the Elderly and Nursing Approach Death is a reality universally shared by all living organisms. It is a frightening but an inescapable event. People are aware that they cannot escape death, but what they do not know is how and when death will occur. For these reasons death is a concept that is feared and is not freely discussed. The meaning of death is perceived in different ways according to a person's period in life and personal experiences. Because preschool age children do not have a clear concept of death the one thing they fear is the threat of separation from their mother and father. For school age children and adolescents, it is perceived as an obstacle to developing relationships and identity. For adults death is seen as interfering with pleasure and responsibilities, it is perceived a blow and an injustice to personality. The elderly who have had productive lives face death as the "natural end" to a long life. Nursing care that is directed at the elderly that perceived them as the individuals nearest to death has special importance. Nurses play important roles in helping elderly individuals and their families to cope with the fear of death, prepare for death and accept death. Keywords: Elderly, attitudes to death, nurse’s roles.