Determination of loneliness level, death anxiety and related factors of individuals over 65 years old living in their own home environment

This study was designed as a prospective and descriptive model to identify factors associated with the level of loneliness and death anxiety increasing with age in individuals aged 65 and over. The sample consisted of 276 individuals residing in the Çamlıhemşin district of Rize, with 164 women and 112 men. Data were collected between May and June 2024 through face-to-face interviews using the Patient Information Form, Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Loneliness Scale for the Elderly, and Death Anxiety Scale. The findings revealed that a significant proportion of elderly individuals were partially dependent and experienced moderate to severe levels of death anxiety. Education, health status, daily activities, and receiving home care services were significantly associated with independence and comorbidity. While increased daily activity was related to reduced loneliness, higher comorbidity was linked to lower independence; however, these variables did not significantly predict death anxiety. Based on the results, it is recommended to expand social support systems and home care services to enhance independence and reduce loneliness and death anxiety among older adults.