CASE STUDY: Family Member with Alzheimer’s Disease: Mark and Jacqueline

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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?

Sample Solution

1. Jacqueline’s Sense of Role Performance:

This situation reflects Jacqueline’s strong sense of duty and obligation to her roles as a daughter and caregiver. Here’s how:

  • Fulfilling a Promise: Jacqueline feels bound by her promise to care for her mother in her old age. This highlights her commitment to honoring her word and fulfilling familial obligations.
  • Prioritizing Caregiving: Jacqueline prioritizes her mother’s needs over her own leisure activities and social life. This demonstrates her dedication to the caregiver role.
  • Emotional Strain: Despite her efforts, Jacqueline’s mother’s condition and lack of response create emotional strain, suggesting a sense of inadequacy or frustration in fulfilling the caregiver role as effectively as she might like.

2. How Jacqueline May Be Contributing to Her Own Health:

Jacqueline’s current approach to caregiving might be negatively impacting her health in several ways:

  • Physical Exhaustion: Eliminating leisure activities and constantly caring for her mother likely leads to physical exhaustion and sleep deprivation.
  • Social Isolation: Jacqueline’s reluctance to socialize with friends or even discuss plans with Mark isolates her and reduces social support, which can negatively impact mental health.
  • Stress and Anxiety: The constant demands of caregiving, coupled with her mother’s condition, likely contribute to stress and anxiety, further affecting her well-being.
  • Feeling Overwhelmed: The unfinished tasks and unpredictable nature of her mother’s behavior might create a sense of overwhelm, leading to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

Overall, Jacqueline’s strong sense of duty is commendable. However, her current approach to caregiving is unsustainable and detrimental to her own health. Finding a balance between fulfilling her obligations and taking care of herself is crucial.

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