The Case of Mrs. G.: Client Centered Communication and Collaboration
How would you best describe Mrs. G.'s feelings about her life, her family, her traditions, and her future?
Based on the responses of Mrs. G concerning the issue of being moved to an assisted living facility, one is able to tell and describe her feelings concerning her family, traditions and also worries concerning her future. She is overwhelmed with emotions and fears characterized by anxiety. She is experiencing ‘transition trauma’ because she fears what the decision to transit will mean. Probably she feels that when she moves to the facility, she will have lost control and independence she has been experiencing at her home because at the new facility she is likely to be under the control of the people manning the facility.
Concerning her family, she seems to fear being further isolated, having in mind the fact that at the moment four of her children are already living away from her she loves socializing as stated by the fact that she loves the company of her home nurse. Losing her husband is already devastating to her, and she is not ready to get confined in a place where she will have to adjust her social life. Moving to the new facility also means that she will have to adjust her cultural aspect of life because the transition will call for adherence to the policies of the facility a point which might be contributing to her emotional response (Madden, 2014).
Finally, she fears for her future in the sense that she feels moving to the facility will mean that she will have to spend the rest of her life there. The reason for this conclusion is because she is already old, and the situations in her life are already taking a toll on her, at the moment she seems to be weak, and the daily activities of living are difficult for her to undertake. She is probably experiencing a late age life crisis because there is nothing she can do to have her ability back.
Did Mrs. G.'s response to her daughter surprise you? Please explain your answer.
In what way do you believe her culture might be influencing her decision?
There are several ways in which Mrs. G’s culture is influencing her decision not to move, the first aspect we realize concerning Mrs. G is the fact that she is culturally social therefore several fears revolving around this aspect of her culture contributed to her response. She feels that she might lose her independence as a mother of her children. She also fears that her relatives and friends will forget her because after relocation they will not be obliged to visit her from time to time to find out how she is fairing on. This is because after having been admitted to the facility all her needs will be met (Madden, 2014).
The fact that she has fallen ill twice at her old age also makes her feel that moving to the facility will trigger these aspects due to the depression and anxiety that comes with seclusion; she prefers being around people like her nurse this is the reason she’d prefer if he were to visit her more often. Her personality from the case analysis is seen as that of dependence on people whom she is close to. The movement to the new facility will mean culturally she will have to adjust, and she fears the culture of the people at the facility might be difficult for her regarding changing her social life (Carder, 2002). Finally, she feels that this transition will make her forget the memories she loves due to the cultural adjustment into the new environment.
If you were Mrs. G.'s daughter what would you say to her that shows you are caring and have compassion for her situation? What nonverbal communication would support that level of communication?
If I were Mrs. G’s daughter there are several things I would do to assure her I am caring and I am compassionate first, I would talk to her about the benefits that she would get at the facility before asking her what she thought about my idea. I would tell her that moving to the facility would improve the quality of life in the sense that she would get assistance at the facility in the tasks which are a potential threat to her condition as a move to ensure she did not get hurt trying to undertake some of the difficult house chores. I would issue cues aimed at making her communicate so that I would first listen concerning her health, fears, needs and hopes so that I would be in a better position to explore the best choice suitable for her.
I would then take my turn to talk to her; I would help her get the understanding of the fact that the movement can be as freeing as the going to school. I would then tell her that there is a wide range of such kinds of facilities, and there are so many options to explore, unlike her parenting days. I would convince her of the fact that, the longer life gets, the more rites we have to pass through, this being one of them. I would relate this to the activity of purchasing a new home for her. I would make her understand that accepting the move is not a sign of defeat but rather a chance to explore the good new experiences life offers. I would also assure her that her home which she values very much will not be sold off, and I would be going to the facility to visit her more frequently in the company of the nurse she loves.
Suppose Mrs. G. stands firm about not leaving her house. What resources and collaborations might be available and helpful so the daughter and other healthcare providers can keep her mother safe and make the most effective decision?
If Mrs. G stays firm and decides not to leave her home some of the resources, I might include several resources and collaborations to facilitate her stay at home while at the same time keeping her safe and in the process even make her consider moving to the facility of her choice. First, I would come up with a comprehensive collaborative care which will include several aspect; the first element will be a care coordination and management resource this might call for the employment of a full-time home nurse who will be assisting Mrs. G with daily home activities that may be tedious for her.
The second element will be the inclusion of a regular and proactive monitoring and treatment plan which includes the services a qualified and approved medical nurse and in this case the nurse she was used to; she should make more regular visits. She will be responsible for monitoring her health condition. I will also involve the services of a counselor who will be responsible for encouraging her and assisting her to cope with the death of her husband. Finally, I would consider relocating to an area near her place of residence so that I can regularly pay her visits and get to know her well-being (Carder, 2002).
References
Madden, K. (2014). Assisted Living or Facility? Can Geri J, 17(1).
Carder, P. (2002). Promoting Independence: An Analysis of Assisted Living Facility Marketing Materials. Research On Aging, 24(1), 106-123.
