Question

Until recently, Ms. Freemont, age 87, lived alone in a small apartment. Last week she suffered a slight stroke, after several days in the hospital, she is ready to be discharged. Her daughter, Ann, is very concerned that her mother is no longer capable of living alone, and handling all her housekeeping and personal needs. She shared her concerned with one of the nurses who cared for her mother during her hospital stay. Ann is very worried and fears she will have to quit work in order to help take care of her mother. The nurse knows that there are a variety of long-term care facilities and a number of options available to Mrs. Freemont. She refers Ann to the hospital social worker, who explains these option and discusses with her which might be most appropriate for her mother.

Put yourself in the place of the social worker. What information would you give Mrs. Freemont and her daughter?

Answer 1

Hospital social workers helps patients and their families to overcome the emotion financial stress , meet all needs by providing training, resources and other supplies. As a social worker following options or information can be provided -

1. Disease related- firstly social worker should explain patient condition, health care needs, medication in easy terms, provide Education material and other resources which gives understanding about what after Care will involve.

2. Self-care - provide self-care Information to patient Mrs Freemont like how to manage daily activities, medicines to be taken , etc which helps her to coordinate with the working of her daughter.

3. other facilities - keep 24x 7 nurse care at home, install home monitoring system and supervise her mother , as it can provide detection of patient takes fall , so that Ann can get back to work.

4. Change working pattern - Ann can change her working pattern like online work and reduce hours of work

5. Easy Home services- there are many ways to pay for medical needs or therapies , can fix appointment online, other services like meal home delivery services so that Mrs . Freemont can get meal on time.

6 Make her mother part of some community or group which helps her in socialising and reduce stress.