Question

Read the case study, then answer the questions that follow.

Venetta is 93 and has made it clear to her family and the community care coordinator that she wants to live in her own home for as long as possible. She doesn’t want to move to residential care and she feels that her family has no right to force her to go. She understands that she may have to accept some help to stay at home and consents to meals being delivered three days a week. Venetta also understands that she is getting increasingly frail and it may be easier for her in the residential care with all the support it offers. However, Venetta wants to stay at home and asks for services to be put in place to help her do this.

1. What questions would you as Venetta to assess:
   • her competence
   • the issues noted in the case study?
2. What observations would you make to confirm her competence either way?
3. To help make a decision, who else could you speak to?

Answer 1

ANSWER :

Questions to be asked to asess her competence :

• Whether she is able to perform daily routine activities independently as she used to do previously? To know her physical competency.
• I will give her certain information and will ask her to comprehend the same information to know her mental competency.
• Multiple choices will be given to her to decide by which we can assess her decision making and to know the impact of her decision.

Issues noted in the case study :

She is very stubborn and doesn't want to leave home and go to residential care inspite of her physical friability and weakness though she knows that she gets good care easily in residential care.Her decision making is not proper which may further effect her living independently.

Observations to be made :

• Will observe her physical activity.
• Will observe her mental status by utilizing psychological tests.
• Any health checkups she is getting regulary done or not.

- I take supported decision making by asking friends ,family members , professionals and others who she trusts - to help understand the issues and choices.