Palliative Care Needs, Quality of Life, and Death Acceptance among Elderly Individuals with Chronic Illnesses in Pangasinan: A Descriptive-Correlational Study

This descriptive-correlational study examined palliative care needs, quality of life, and death acceptance among elderly individuals with chronic illnesses in Pangasinan, Philippines. Thirty-eight respondents aged 60 years and above from Orchid Carehome, Inc. and the Dagupan City Office of Senior Citizens Affairs participated through purposive sampling. Data were obtained using a structured questionnaire adapted from validated quality-of-life and death-attitude instruments and supplemented with items on illness-related, social, spiritual, and communication factors. Frequency, percentage, weighted mean, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were used. Findings showed a moderate overall quality of life, with stronger social and environmental functioning but lower physical and psychological scores, indicating ongoing palliative needs for symptom control, mobility support, emotional care, spiritual support, and health information. Death acceptance was high, with faith comfort, acknowledgment of death as natural, and perceived spiritual peace receiving the highest scores. Quality of life was significantly and positively associated with death acceptance (r = 0.46, p = 0.004). Regression results showed that spiritual involvement and duration of illness significantly predicted death acceptance. The findings support holistic geriatric-palliative care integrating rehabilitation, psychosocial counseling, family engagement, spiritual care, and advance care planning for chronically ill Filipino elders in community and institutional settings, especially in provincial healthcare contexts.