Question

• Jessie is the carer of James, her 25-year-old son with intellectual and physical disabilities and mental health issues. Jessie worked for 15 years as a social worker, but gave up her career when James was born and has been caring for him ever since. James is an outgoing young man, but he needs daily assistance with personal care, dressing, medication, meal preparation, transport, attendance at appointments, and financial management issues. Up until one year ago Jessie provided all the care for James, but Jessie’s health deteriorated and she needed the assistance of support workers on a daily basis. Jessie has painful arthritis which is restricting her movements and she has recently been diagnosed with a benign brain tumour which will require intensive treatment over a period of months during which time Jessie will be unable to care for James at all. While Jessie has been ill, James’ behaviour has become quite demanding which has increased Jessie’s stress.

  In a short paragraph for each, answer the questions.

• How might the relationship between Jessie and James have changed over the past two years?

Answer 1

Jessie was the caretaker of James since he was born. She was a very caring mother and she gave up her job in the sake of giving care for her son. James was 25 year old and was suffering from mental issues and health and intellectual disabilities. He was not able to meet his daily activities by himself hence needed assistance. His mother Jessei was very much devoted and she helped him by providing assistance with personal care, dressing ,medication ,meal preparation ,transport and other financial management issues. James was totally depending on her mother for the last 25 years.

But a year before Jessie's health deteriorated and she was suffering from painful arthritis and recently diagnosed with brain tumor. So she was unable to meet all the demands of her son James and needed a physical assistance on daily basis. She is a very caring mother who does not forget to take care of his son and provide with all the care possible even during her oldage. She is ignoring her difficulties, pain and is more worried about her sons needs. She does not failed to meet the demands of her son even during her distress by providing additional physical assistance.

But during the last year, James might not be able to accept his mother's disability and he may be frustrated with the physical assistance provided by other person. Since Jessie has to go for the treatment, she may not be able to meet all the demands of her son, or always sit with her son. James since has intellectual and mental disability, he may not be able to accept the fact and he might become demanding. This will increase the stress of Jessei and make her more overburdened. James also might be very angry at several things and he may become very demanding that he wants all his physical activity to be done by his mother Jessei. This is because he lacks his intellectual abilities, and he cannot coordinately think the fact that his mother is old and she is suffering from arthritis and cannot help him with all his physical activities. Sometimes James may also feel unwanted or lonely.

This feeling of her son James,will make Jessie depressed and sad. And she will be much tensed about the health of her son.