Case Study 2: Resilience alongside frailty
(Adapted from Moyle et al. 2014, p.91)
Aim: To examine the concept of resilience in older people who experience adversity in the face of living with chronic illness. Apply a strengths-based approach to the care of older people in order to foster resilience and promote recovery of function and quality of life.
Concepts: Resilience, frailty, chronic illness, strength-based approach, recovery, function, quality of life.
Case study: Joan is 87 and lives on her own in Sydney. Joan was married for 60 years until her husband died seven years ago. Her husband’s family remains in contact by telephone but daily support is from friends and neighbours. Joan had one son, Keith, who died of cancer while in his forties. Joan required major heart surgery five years ago. She recovered well but requires medication and visits her GP and tends outpatients regularly. In 2007 she fell and broke her ankle. The ankle joint did not mend well and she remained immobile for six months. During this time she was cared for at home, visited by home and community care services twice a day and by a network of friends. Although she got back on her feet, Joan fell again, breaking her wrist on the second occasion. This left her feeling unconfident, using a walking stick and unwilling to go out on her own. Very soon, however, in spite of pain, Joan was keen to go out into her garden and to meet socially with friends. This was the driver for Joan and she soon was going over the road to visit her neighbour, aged 91. Thus, Joan continued to prosper and her mobility improved to the point where she requires fewer support services.
Read and reflect on Joan’s case and address the following questions:
1. Have you experienced older people like Joan? What drives such people to keep going even when faced with repeated events of adversity associated with chronic illness?
2. How would you use a strengths-based approach to determine the ‘best’ care for Joan? How would you approach her care from this perspective?
3. What practice examples illustrate your application of a strengths-based approach to Joan’s care? Provide examples.
4. Appraise how fostering resilience and promoting recovery of function for Joan promotes her quality of life.
7941NRS Challenges in Ageing
Assignment 2 Case Study
Resilience alongside frailty – Feedback
Student Name
Assignment 1 Criteria U S G V E
Comprehension: Demonstrates a sound understanding the case study (10%)
• Shows a sound knowledge of the key issues/concepts relevant to case study
Analysis and argument: Provides a well-developed argument supported by an informed examination of relevant literature (20%)
• Demonstrates an understanding of resilience alongside frailty
• Examines factors that promote resilience in older people experiencing chronic illness
• Apply a strengths-based approach to care that promotes recovery of function and quality of life
Demonstrates a satisfactory literacy standard (2.5%)
• Uses correct spelling, grammar and non-sexist language
Scholarly presentation of the essay (2.5%)
• Well-constructed responses to the reflective questions
• Correct use of APA (6th edition) for in-text referencing and reference list
Comments/ Mark ( /35)
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|