Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to identify age-related differences in death anxiety and Preferences for Care Near the End of Life among elderly patients in long-term care hospitals, focusing on variations as length of stay increases. Methods: To analyze the differences in general characteristics of elderly individuals in long-term care hospitals based on age, a chi-square test was conducted for cross-analysis. The t-test was used to analyze differences in levels of death anxiety and Preferences for Care Near the End of Life according to age among elderly patients in long-term care hospitals. Results: The difference in death anxiety by age of the subjects was 2.91±0.62 for the elderly under 75 years of age and 3.23±0.29 for the elderly over 75 years of age, showing that death anxiety was higher in the elderly over 75 years of age(p=.002). The difference in Preferences for Care Near the End of Life according to the age of the subjects was 3.03±0.38 for the elderly under 75 years of age and 3.15±0.26 for the elderly over 75 years of age, showing that Preferences for Care Near the End of Life was higher in the elderly over 75 years of age(p=.034). Conclusion: Since elderly people residing in long-term care hospitals have high levels of death anxiety and Preferences for Care Near the End of Life, it is necessary to regularly assess the level of death anxiety and Preferences for Care Near the End of Life among elderly people to provide appropriate management.