A Case Study on the Well-Dying Perception of Community Senior Centers Users

This study is a case study that thoroughly examines perceptions of well-dying among senior center users in N-City, Kyonggi-do, offering an in-depth look at discussions about a good death within the context of a super-aged society. It analyzes the experiences and perceptions related to well-dying among the elderly, focusing on senior centers (Gyeonglodang) as community-based spaces. The research employed a qualitative case study approach, conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews with seven users from four senior centers in N-City. The findings revealed several key themes: the necessity of preparing for well-dying, the desire for death without burdening family, the lack of education and information on well-dying, the psychological stabilizing effects of senior center activities, and the importance of economic preparation for well-dying. These findings illuminate the elderly's views on well-dying and underscore the need for senior centers to evolve into open spaces for elderly welfare. This transformation would facilitate the development and implementation of counseling and programs that address life and death issues for the elderly in a super-aged society.