Case Study

Audrey is 65 years old and has recently been diagnosed with cancer. She has received treatment in hospital and now wishes to be cared for at home. She can care for herself most of the time but is prone to fainting and black outs. She is quite frail but able to walk with a walking stick. Audrey is widowed but has three children who are married, live in the next town and work full time. They are worried about Audrey’s safety if she continues to live at home and would prefer her to stay in hospital or another residential care setting. They have spoken to the team at the hospital and arranged for Audrey to go into a private nursing home. They are insisting this is best for Audrey and the home agrees. 1. Can Audrey insist that she remains living at home? 2. What alternatives to the care home could be discussed and considered with Audrey? 3. How could you as practitioner help to keep a positive relationship with the family if Audrey rejects the care home they have arranged for her? 4. What is positive and negative about the way the family has acted? It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your tutor.