Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G

Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G

The case study involves a 75-year-old widow called Mrs. G who is going through feelings of individuality and loneliness, deteriorating health status and aging. Her children are resolute about keeping her safe and ensuring that she receives the best care. It is for this reason that they initiated a conversation with Mrs. G about going to an assisted living facility. Mrs. G is against not only the idea but also gets upset that her children believe that she should go out of her home where she has lived with her husband for 50 years…

In this written assignment, you have the opportunity to share your thoughts about how to deliver client-centered culturally competent care and work collaboratively with others. Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G.

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The Case of Mrs. G.
Mrs. G. is a 75 year old Hispanic woman who has been relatively well all of her life. She had been married for 50 years and had five children. Her children are grown with families of their own. All but one of her children live in other states. Mrs. G.\’s husband passed away last year, which was devastating for her. She had been very close to him and relied upon him for everything. He was \”the life of the party\” she always said and was a loving and caring man. Since his passing, Mrs. G. has continued to live in the house they shared for 35 years. In the last month, Mrs. G. has fallen twice sustaining injuries, though minimal. Her home health nurse comes weekly to check in on her. Mrs. G. likes her very much and wishes she could come more often. Mrs. G.\’s daughter who lives in the next town over, has been worried and decided with the urging of her siblings and the doctor to start looking for an assisted living facility for her mother. She found one last week and talked with the Director who said she would be happy to help in whatever way was best. The daughter decided to tell her mother that it was time for her to move, so she can be cared for and be safe. When she told her mother, Mrs. G. cried and said, \”This will not happen ever. I plan to stay in this house of loving memories for the remainder of my life.\” Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G

In 3 – 4 pages answer the following questions:

1.)How would you best describe Mrs. G.\’s feelings about her life, her family, her traditions, and her future?

2.)Did Mrs. G.\’s response to her daughter surprise you? Please explain your answer.

3.)In what way do you believe her culture might be influencing her decision?

4.)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?

5.)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? Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G

 

Overview

The case study involves a 75-year-old widow called Mrs. G who is going through feelings of individuality and loneliness, deteriorating health status and aging. Her children are resolute about keeping her safe and ensuring that she receives the best care. It is for this reason that they initiated a conversation with Mrs. G about going to an assisted living facility. Mrs. G is against not only the idea but also gets upset that her children believe that she should go out of her home where she has lived with her husband for 50 years.

How Mrs. G Feels About Her Life, Family, Traditions, and Future

Mrs. G strongly values family including people she is not related to by blood such as church leaders and immediate community members. Her interest in family surpasses her interest to the extent that she values her husband and children more than she values herself. Besides, she valued the impact she had on her children’s future lifestyle. Rather than having a personality of her own, she integrated with the family’s cultural practices and structure. She respected her husband who was the head of the family unit and had the family authority. Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G. It is for this reason that Mrs. G was still grieving the loss of her husband, a situation that can be emotionally devastating.

According to the traditions of Hispanics, children are expected to relate closely with family and take responsibility for their care when they grow old. The suggestion to go to an assisted living facility is not common in their culture since when parents grow old, children opt to live with their parents or parents usually move in to live with their children. Mrs. G is also influenced by her religious and spiritual beliefs on well-being and illness. According to the Hispanic culture, good health is a reward from God while illness is a punishment for a wrongdoing. It is for this reason that she feels she has done something wrong. Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G

Mrs. G’s Response

There are mixed reputations about the ability of assisted living facilities to care for elderly people. In most cases, incidences of maltreatment and negligence tend to overshadow the best outcomes and positive tales of those living in assisted living facilities. In this case, Mrs. Gs’ response to her daughter’s suggestion of moving to an assisted living facility with a lot of unwillingness and resentment. Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G.  Her response is linked to several reasons. She strongly feels that leaving a home she has spent more than 35 years with her husband will feel like totally losing him. The house brings memories she cherished and shared with her husband. Therefore, even in his physical absence, she still feels his presence.

Besides, Mrs. G is determined to maintain her independence and adapt to living without her husband. However, she feels that going to an assisted living facility takes away that independence.  Lastly, most seniors think that they are forgotten when taken in an assisted living facility. The majority of those who reside in assisted living facilities involuntarily believe that their care is transferred to other people other than their children who should take responsibility for their care. Therefore, concerning the devastating events that occurred in her life, her reaction to her daughter’s suggestion was not surprising. Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G

How Culture Influences Her Decision

Mrs. G’s culture probably has a great influence on her decision to continue residing in her house rather than moving to an assisted living facility as proposed by her daughters. The Latino culture values family and that is why Mrs. G feels that she should continue living in her house where she spent most of the time with her husband and children and that her daughters should take responsibility for her care. However, it is also evident that Mrs. G openly welcomes a home nurse who checks and cares for her every week. This means that Mrs. G is determined and willing to allow more frequent care visits than she currently receives. Her willingness to let someone else take care of her illustrates multiculturalism where she has adjusted to the culture of the nation that she currently resides (Catalano, 2015). It is essential to hold on to their culture and personal beliefs although philosophies and values might fail to align with individual views, which increases the complexity of care. Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G

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Communicating With Mrs. G

A meaningful conversation with Mrs. G requires less aggressiveness from her daughter. Instead, she should be more personal so that Mrs. G does not feel sad and angry. Her daughter should also communicate her fears about her mother’s deteriorating health status and general mental status to help Mrs. G understand her idea of going to reside in an assisted living facility. When communicating, her daughter should express care and compassion by using positive facial expressions, maintain eye contact when talking to her mother, give light touches of reassurance, and love (Campinha-Bacote, 2011) Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G. This is the only way Mrs. G will discover that her idea is respectful, mindful and meaningful.

Resources and Collaborations

There are wide ranges of resources that can ensure the safety of Mrs. G based on her choice. These resources include meals delivered at home, senior daycares, personal chore and care services, and transport services. Based on the information provided regarding Mrs. G’s preferences, she would benefit a lot from frequent home health services. Home health services will ensure that Mrs. G gets a daytime caregiver. At night when there is no one around, the use of a fall alert device may be considered. Should Mrs. G’s situation worsen, it will be necessary to consider a 24-hour home care service. Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G

 

References

Catalano, Joseph T. (2015). Nursing Now! Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s Trends, 7th Edition.

Campinha-Bacote, J. (2011). Delivering Patient-Centered Care amid a Cultural Conflict: The Role of Cultural Competence. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 16(2), 5th ser. doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol16No02Man05 Client-Centered Communication and Collaboration- The Case of Mrs. G