1) Your Overall Reaction to the Assigned Reading: “Conducting a Biopsychosocial Assessment” by Kathleen McInnis-Dittrich is another interesting reading that I definitely enjoyed. It’s very interesting to know that there is an assessment that actually can tell professionals what are the strengths and challenges of an older person. Older people can be evaluated with the biopsychosocial assessment and how support or rehabilitative services can help older adults to maintain independent and satisfying lifestyles could be identify (McInnis-Dittritch, 2014). Assessment are usually conducted following a change in the older adult life such as a serious illness, falls, loss of a spouse, change in living arrangements, or come evidence of difficulty observed by a family member …show more content…
2) Specifically, What Ideas/Concepts Did You Like/Dislike? This chapter has been an eye-opener to me; for example, the difference between gerontological and geriatric evaluation; gerontological which is the science that deal with aging and the problems of aged person while geriatric evaluation or diagnostic workup are usually done by a team of service providers including physicians, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and physical therapist. When the gentorological assessment is about to be conducted to a older person the social worker needs to be aware that he/she is going to ask very personal questions which must be asked with exceptional sensitivity and patience on the part of the social worker; social workers should expect resistance to admitting difficulties is highly personal areas such as bodily functions, family relationships, sexual activities and personal finances (McInnis-Dittritch,
Michael is a 56 year old male who lives alone in a small tin shed in the middle of the bush in central Queensland. He has no children, no partner and lives by himself. During the day he spends his time sleeping on the couch or doing chores around the property. If he isn’t asleep, he requires a stimuli to remain occupied. When he was a young boy, he was a very calm child with a great sense of humour. His physical health was perfect with good energy levels. When he was sexually abused at the age of 8, by his grandfather, these characteristics started to change. From the age of 16 he was having regular breakdowns in his thinking and emotional responses. Michael was constantly feeling irritable and having trouble sleeping with frequent nightmares. As the years went by his attitude was extremely negative which led on to him being withdrawn from his family and friends. During his last year of high school, he started to regularly use marijuana. He would experience countless amounts of paranoia episodes where he would hear voices and thought he was being spied on. At the age of 45 he was fin...
First of all, this case is associated with biopsychosocial approach which recognizes that, it is the approach that considers human behavior to be the result of interactions of integrated biological, psychological, and social systems. This approach helps us to recognize the ways in which women’s biology, psychology, and their social world intertwine within each other affect their reactions to alcohol and alcohol interventions. In order to explain some of the concepts and theories, we must first sort through the facts that have been presented in the case study. This particular case is concerned with developing a better understanding of the relationship between Casey, and alcoholism.
Mrs. Nancy Hamilton (changed name for privacy) is 95 years old female who resides in a local continued care retirement community (CCRC) located in the Los Angeles County. I decided to interview Mrs. Hamilton for her successful aging. I have known her for 9 years and her aging process has not been an easy ride but she always maintained a positive sprit that kept her going even today. Mrs. Hamilton moved in to a CCRC in 2006, two years after her husband passed away. Mrs. Hamilton has one daughter and one son. Daughter Margaret lives nearby and visits frequently and takes care of personally needs such as transportation to medical appointments or shopping for skin care products or clothes as necessary. Son, David lives in the Northern California and visits a few times a year.
First of all, through this assignment, I have learned that a theory is an interrelated set of concepts and propositions, organized into deductive systems that explain relationships among different aspects. It is an overall explanation of the person in environment configuration, and helps explain why a problem is occurring. It will also provide a social worker with a set of ideas that will help the social worker get a better understanding of the problem. In addition, there are many different theories, and perspectives that are used in the social work field to empower people and to promote a positive society for all. This particular case is associated with bio-psychosocial approach
Having worked in the field of geriatrics, in a nursing home setting, I have had the opportunity to be involved in the direct care of the elderly. Over a period of time, I have come to accept living one's last years in a nursing home as an eventual "normal" response to the aging process. As a result of this study, I anticipate having an enlarged perspective and an enhanced sensitivity to the psychosocial aspects of aging.
Validity and reliability: The assessment has an overall reliability coefficient of .93 based on test-retest reliability, making it an extremely reliable assessment (Fredricks, 2010). For it 's validity rate, the assessment has an overall validity of 93.9% (Fredricks, 2010). However, many argue that this reliability and validity be accepted with caution. The test-retest reliability is limited by the fact that it is only reported over a two-week period. In addition, the sample population with a high occurrence of substance abuse disorder, could attribute to it 's high validity rate (Fredricks, 2010).
The first step is a community care assessment, which is usually arranged by the local authority's
...th professionals, were significantly more cynical toward and distrustful of older adults” (p. 63). The findings in Meisner’s (2012) conveyed that physicians demonstrated attitudes about older patients including feelings of these individuals being “disengaged and unproductive” while assuming that these characteristics applied to all of the older patients regardless of each person’s actual abilities (p. 63). Combing all older adults into one category defined by disability and dysfunction is detrimental to the well-being of each patient. Chronological age is not the determining factor relative to treatment; functional age is a better testament to expected outcomes for a patient. It is imperative that physicians understand what is “normal aging” rather than searching for pathologies based on symptoms that are just part of this aging process. According to Meisner
...the patient’s family more within the assessment after obtaining the patients consent, but my main aim in this case was to concentrate the assessment, solely on the patient, with little information from the family/loved ones. This is a vital skill to remember as patients family/loved ones can often feel unimportant and distant toward nursing staff, and no one knows the patient better than they do, and can tell you vital information. Therefore involvement of family/ carers or loved ones is sometimes crucial to patient’s further treatment and outcomes.
Darby, S. Marr, J. Crump, A Scurfield, M (1999) Older People, Nursing & Mental Health. Oxford: Buterworth-Heinemann.
It is generally accepted within healthcare that to understand mental health we must adopt the biopsychosocial model. This model assumes that an interdependent relationship exists between biological, psychological and social factors which are involved in all aspects of mental health (Toates, 2010, p. 14). To be true to the model research must be holistic and not investigate the factors in isolation.
This concept applies to the topic of providing care to the elderly and resolving practical problems.
Simpson, C. (2007) ‘Mental Health part3: Assessment and Treatment of Depression’ British Journal of Healthcare assistants. pp 167-171.
As a Gerontology minor student, I have learned the importance of helping older adults with their daily activities. It is also a proven fact that the burden of becoming a caregiver for an elderly, and taking care of a loved one full or even part time, nearly always becomes the responsibility of the family of elderly. Based on my research, I have found out how a Geriatric Counselor can provide assistance to older adults and their families with issues related to the aging process The help that can be received from a Geriatric Counselor can often make the lives of older adults and their families much easier by reducing the burden, and providing convenient, comfort, and ultimately a better quality of life for those in the later years of their lives.
Strawbridge, W. J., Wallhagen, M. I., & Cohen, R. D. (2002). Successful aging and well-being: Self-rated compared with Rowe and Kahn. The Gerontologist, 42(6), 727–33.