To synthesize recent empirical literature and conceptual developments concerning death wishes in older adults.
Approach:
Key Findings:
Death wishes among older adults are complex and not solely linked to mental or terminal illness.
Many older individuals express death wishes without psychiatric disorders, often as an existential response to cumulative losses.
Death wishes are influenced by psychological, relational, societal, and legal factors, organized within a multilevel framework.
A purely psychiatric or autonomy-driven approach is insufficient; narrative competence and existential sensitivity are required in clinical responses.
Interpretation:
Death wishes in older adults should be viewed as multifaceted expressions of suffering, identity, and relationality, reflecting a multidimensional approach rather than merely clinical or legal phenomena.
Limitations:
Heterogeneity in terminology and operational definitions complicates the understanding of death wishes.
Prevalence estimates vary significantly due to differences in measurement instruments and definitions.
Conclusion:
An integrated conceptual framework is necessary to address the complexities of death wishes in older adults, with implications for clinical practice in geriatrics, psychiatry, and palliative care.
