RT Journal Article
T1 Avoidant Coping of the Decision-Making Process on the Location of Care in Old Age: A Possible Conspiracy of Silence?
A1 Serrano-Gemes, Gema
A1 Gil, Isabel
A1 Coelho, Adriana
A1 Serrano-del-Rosal, Rafael
K1 conspiracy of silence
K1 pact of silence
K1 decision-making
K1 older people
K1 location of care
K1 qualitative
K1 Palliative care
K1 Information
AB The conspiracy of silence is extremely important due to both its high incidence and its consequences. This process usually occurs in situations of palliative care, or death; however, this concept is also mentioned in the literature linked to other contexts. Therefore, our objective was to study whether the conspiracy of silence may be extrapolated to the context of decision-making on the location of care in old age. To this end, we first analyzed the in-depth semi structured qualitative interviews conducted with older people, caregivers, and professionals, about decision-making on the location of care in old age. Subsequently, a comparative analysis was performed between the basic elements of the conspiracy of silence and this decision-making. Our findings revealed an avoidance process developed by all three groups. Furthermore, this decision-making presents similarities with the conspiracy of silence in the process of avoidance coping and denial that is developed. However, there are significant differences, as information is not withheld from the older person, who has an active attitude in the process of avoidance. Decision-making on the location of care in old age does not exactly match the conspiracy of silence process, but it does seem to correspond to a pact of silence.
PB Mdpi
YR 2021
FD 2021-12-01
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10668/25626
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10668/25626
LA en
DS RISalud
RD Apr 10, 2025