Reference no: EM133861921

Case Studies

Case Study 1: Interpersonal Communication Resource: Mosby, Chapter 5: Interpersonal Communication

Mrs. Rose is an 89-year-old retired teacher with moderate cognitive impairment and extremely painful osteoarthritis. Your visit is scheduled for 0900, but you arrive at 0910. As you walk up the steps, you see Mr. Rose, a retired military police officer, pacing at the window. When you come through the door, he shouts "you're late!" He walks into the bedroom where Mrs. Rose is waiting for you to provide her AM care and slams the door. You knock on the bedroom door, and Mrs. Rose cheerfully says, "come in dear". As you enter the room, however, Mr. Rose continues to shout at you.

Questions 1. What possible underlying factors might be influencing Mr. Rose's communication?

Consider the following and provide relevant examples:

a. Perception

b. Physical and Mental Health Status

c. Core Values

d. Age

e. Experience

f. Mood and Emotions

g. Gender

2. What therapeutic communication tools might you use to aid communication in this situation? Use the following suggestions, and explain your choices:

a. Active Listening

b. Perception Checking

c. Paraphrasing

d. Empathetic Listening and Responding

e. Asking Close ended questions

f. Asking open -ended questions

g. Clarifying

h. Focusing

i. Humour

3. What aspects of your non-verbal communication do you need to be aware of and why?

4. What are some barriers to effective communication?

5. What if you try all of your best therapeutic communication techniques and Mr. Rose is still shouting at you? What would you say/do next?

Case Study 2 - Problem Solving, Home Care Client with Dementia You are working in the community and offering respite for Mrs. White, the main caregiver for her husband, Jim, who has moderate stage Alzheimer's disease. His care plan says he is to have a shower. His wife is going out to do some shopping and have lunch with a friend. Once he is sitting on the bath bench in the shower, he starts to yell for his wife and tries to grab your arm.

Questions:

1. What do you know about dementia that will help guide your care for Mr. White?

2. How would you handle the situation? After you finish helping Mr. White with his shower, he appears calm and sits in the living room. As you reflect on the shower, you recall that his behaviour was the same a few weeks ago when you were here. When you look through the notes in his chart, you see other CHW's have reported similar instances.

Questions:

1. Who should you report this to and when?

2. Do you have any suggestions for ways to make Mr. White's shower time more comfortable for him, and thus easier for all involved? 3. Write out the exact words you would use to make your report. Include your suggestions.