ABSTRACT

Introduction: Dying well refers to the process of preparing for death while preserving one’s dignity and personal values. In South Korea, public interest is increasing and relevant policies are emerging. However, the existing services are largely limited to terminal patients and older adults, and interdisciplinary collaboration remains insufficient. To date, the role of occupational therapists has not yet been clearly defined at the institutional level. This study aimed to define the role of occupational therapists in the development of a well-dying support system.Subject: This study examined the current status of South Korea’s well-dying support system and reviewed international cases to explore the possible roles of occupational therapists. Based on this analysis, service recipients were classified by life stage and stage-specific intervention strategies were developed. These strategies emphasize meaningful occupational engagement, functional maintenance, emotional stabilization, and caregiver support, with detailed approaches provided at each stage.Conclusion: This study examined the potential involvement of occupational therapists in a well-dying support system by presenting classification guidelines and stage-specific intervention strategies. It sought to explore directions for establishing their roles and professional identity and is expected to serve as foundational data for building institutional participation and informing future policy and service development.