Question

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

Frances is 74 years old and is vision impaired. She lives at home and manages well with the assistance of HACC services and visits from friends and family. Recently her son, Marty, has been visiting her more often than usual. One day he says that Frances should move into a care facility, as she’d be happier there and also says he’s been looking into selling her house. This worries Frances as she is able to manage at home with her network of assistance and enjoys her independence.

Frances decides to ring the HACC coordinator Sylvia. She tells Sylvia she’s worried her son may sell her house and that she wants to live at home for as long as possible. Sylvia knows that Marty has enduring financial power of attorney for Frances so he can manage her finances and pay her bills. Sylvia also knows that Marty has recently incurred a large financial debt.

Question

1. What conflict of interest can you identify in this case study? Explain your answer.

2. What should Sylvia do? Who should she speak to and why? How would Sylvia ensure that Frances’s rights and needs are addressed?

Answer 1

Question 1

Answer: The conflict of interest between the decision of the mother and the son. The son wants to sell the house, keep his mother in the care center but the father does not want to move in the care center she wants to live in the house with the help of assistance and enjoy independence. For both the decision to have a genuine reason or interest so it is difficult for the nurse to understand whose side she has to stand and support.

Question 2:

Answer: Sylvia should do counseling for both the son and mother to compromise the conflict. Sylvia should talk to the son first because his mother is also an individual. every individual has the right to be autonomous and live with freedom. As the mother has only a short period to live in this world, during this time giving her a good time and living with independence is the duty of her son. So the son should respect the decision of the mother and let her live with independence is her own house till last breath and she will manage the house with the help of assistance. This ensured that Francis's rights and needs are addressed.