EDHD 320 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Healthcare Proxy, Dementia
9 May 2018
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Lecture 19
Death and Afterlife Beliefs
Overview of Death and Afterlife Beliefs
- Demography of death
- Where we die
- End of life options
- Bereavements/grief
- Beliefs about death
- Mourning rituals
The Demography of Death: Historical Variations
- Until the past century
o Infancy was the life stage with highest mortality rates
o Young women frequently died from childbirth; young men frequently died in
wars
- Until early 20th century, infectious diseases major causes of death
o By 21st century, only 5% of deaths due to infectious diseases
- With increased life expectancy, more likely to die from heart disease and cancer
- Figure 13.1
o Heart disease and cancer are main causes
The Demography of Death: Major Causes of Death Today
- Common causes of death vary with age and by country
- Developing countries
o Infectious disease=primary causes of death in developing countries; especially
for children under age of 5 and in Africa
- Developed countries
o Heart disease
o Cancer
o Gender and ethnic differences—men have slightly more heart disease than men,
men may die earlier
o Risk factors—how you grew up and genetics
The Sociocultural Contexts of Death Where We Die
- In developing countries, most die at home
- In developed countries, only 20% die at home
o Many prefer to die in comfort but in developed countries=challenge due to
causes of illness
o Hospitals can provide care but more impersonal
o Increased chance of loneliness, fear, and untreated pain
Options Regarding the End of Life
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