Possible interventions, assessment, and prevention strategies
Assignment 2
After you fill out the form, write a paper discussing your assessment, possible interventions, and prevention strategies that you might use in this vignette. Justify your decisions and actions by using and referencing the course text and ethics code.
Assessment
Teresa is an elderly woman who suffers from depression, hopelessness, and feels that life has no meaning. The main problem in this case study is isolation and lack of communication. Teresa is isolated by her daughter and son-in-law, who are too busy to take care of her. There is no communication between the mother and daughter because Teresa is afraid of confronting the daughter about what is going through. Teresa feels that life had no meaning because she lost her husband and her daughter is too busy for her. Because of her old age, the daughter and the son-in-law are supposed to take care of Teresa by ensuring she has enough food to eat, she has her items and other important things for an elderly woman. If the daughter is too busy, she should employ a housekeeper to help take care of her elderly mother because she is not able to take care of herself. If this continues to occur, Teresa is likely to die of loneliness, depression, and hunger because she has no one to take to and take care of her.
Intervention
Teresa’s daughter and her husband need to spend some time with her other. They need to make her feel wanted and special by listening to the problems and encouraging her to feel positive about herself. Because of her age, Teresa needs to eat the right meal at the right place to give her the energy to live a longer life. If her daughter is too busy, she should employ a caregiver to help take care of her mother. Employing a therapist to see her mother is also a good idea because it will help her feel good about herself and that life still has meaning even without her husband. Despite the busy schedule, Teresa’s daughter should create a few days of the weak to be with her mother and even take her out together with her husband. This will make her have a sense of belonging.
Prevention
To prevent the problem in the case study, Teresa’s mother can be taken to a home for the elderly where she will have access enough care and also be able to socialize with others that have problems that are similar to hers. If Teresa gets affection, she will feel wanted and loved by her family members. Her daughter should give her affection by hugging and holding her hands to help reduce her stress. Her daughter should also provide extra emotional and social support by not only giving flowers to her but also spending some quality time with her. This helps to encourage a healthy grieving process. Employing a family caregiver is also important. After all, the caregivers help to care for the mother because the caregivers are more concerned about the social well-being of the elderly person. They should also engage their mother with anything that involves a group. for instance, They can be engaged in playing bridge, which is socially healthy. Dining with others is also encouraged to reduce isolation. Eating with her daughter and son in law is inherently social, whether it is in the house or a restaurant. It also helps to promote better nutrition which is important for the elder people.