Case Example: Marilyn
Marilyn is 71 and lives alone. Her
husband died 25 years ago and she resides in a small subsidized apartment. She
has one daughter living in
She rarely sleeps more than 4 hours
nightly. She worries someone will break into her home, she’s anxious if someone
calls with a wrong number and she cleans her apartment obsessively.
Marilyn has elevated levels of blood
pressure and cholesterol, painful arthritis and mild diabetes. Besides chronic
pain and bowel trouble, she is often depressed and negative. Marilyn constantly
complains. She has often thought of taking a bottle of pills and ending it all.
Socially isolated, her only visitor is the public health nurse who comes
monthly to do foot care. The nurse has attempted many times to get Marilyn to
go to the nearby seniors community centre, tried to get her into a bridge
class, encouraged her to join a shallow water fitness group, but Marilyn says
she doesn’t believe anything would help. Marilyn is mega stressed and in a
crisis.
What a difference some lifestyle changes would make for Marilyn!
She might well benefit from some medication
and psychological interventions to deal with her depression, anxiety and
shyness. A very bright woman who doesn’t value her intellect, she would benefit
from being drawn out, made to see how her talents could help others. With her
literary abilities, she’d be a big help with writing the newsletter for the
seniors community centre. That in turn would give her social contacts, and
provide her with more of a purpose. There is an exercise program at the seniors
centre called Gentle Gym for Arthritis, it may help to
ease Marilyn’s pain. The activities at the Centre could provide Marilyn with peer support, health
improvements and a sense of purpose before her stressful conditions further
endanger her health.