CASE STUDY: Family Member with Alzheimer’s Disease: Mark and Jacqueline
Mark and Jacqueline have been married for 30 years. They have grown children who live in another
state. Jacqueline’s mother has moved in with the couple because she has Alzheimer’s disease.
Jacqueline is an only child and always promised her mother that she would care for her in her old
age. Her mother is unaware of her surroundings and often calls out for her daughter Jackie when
Jacqueline is in the room. Jacqueline reassures her mother that she is there to help, but to no avail.
Jacqueline is unable to visit her children on holidays because she must attend to her mother’s daily
needs. She is reluctant to visit friends or even go out to a movie because of her mother’s care needs
or because she is too tired. Even though she has eliminated most leisure activities with Mark,
Jacqueline goes to bed at night with many of her caregiving tasks unfinished. She tries to visit with
her mother during the day, but her mother rejects any contact with her daughter. Planning for the
upcoming holidays seems impossible to Mark, because of his wife’s inability to focus on anything
except her mother’s care.
Jacqueline has difficulty sleeping at night and is unable to discuss plans even a few days in
advance. She is unable to visit friends and is reluctant to have friends visit because of the
unpredictable behavior of her mother and her need to attend to the daily care.
Reflective Questions
1. How do you think this situation reflects Jacqueline’s sense of role performance?
2. How do you think that Jacqueline may be contributing to her own health?
Jacqueline’s sense of role performance is likely being impacted by the demands of caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease. She may feel guilty or conflicted about her inability to meet the needs of all of her roles, including her role as a wife, mother, daughter, and friend. She may also feel isolated and unsupported, as she is unable to participate in social activities or visit her children as often as she would like.
2. How do you think that Jacqueline may be contributing to her own health?
Jacqueline’s health may be suffering in a number of ways. She may be experiencing sleep deprivation, stress, and anxiety. She may also be neglecting her own physical and emotional needs, as she is focused on caring for her mother.
Other potential impacts on Jacqueline’s health:
Recommendations for Jacqueline
It is important for Jacqueline to take care of herself in order to be able to continue to care for her mother. Here are some recommendations:
It is also important for Jacqueline to remember that she is not alone. Millions of people care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. There are resources available to help her, and she should not hesitate to reach out for help when she needs it.
Recommendations for Mark
Mark can also play an important role in supporting Jacqueline and her health. Here are some recommendations: