Elder Abuse Scenario: Nursing-Case Study Assignment

Internal Code: MAS-484

Case Study Assignment:

CaseWorld (Greta Balodis)-Elder abuse scenario: Mrs Greta Balodis is a 75 year-old widow who until recently lived alone in her single-storey house. She has recently returned home from rehabilitation post a right-sided cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Her daughter Anne has relocated to the city with her family to become Gretas full-time live-in carer. However, Annes family have psychosocial and psychological complexities that impact on the wider family dynamics. Greta is regularly subjected to her grandson and son-in- laws problematic alcohol and drug use. Also, because of Anne and Johns relationship issues and Dylans erratic behaviour,Greta no longer feels safe in her own home. For some time, Anne manages to care for her mother in the home; however after Greta trips over the cat, she deteriorates post-fall and eventually needs to be placed in high level care. Background: Greta has been living independently for 38 years in a single-storey house with a garden in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. Over the past two years, Greta’s health has declined making it harder for her to carry out her activities of daily living as independently as she would like. She has been paying for Domiciliary Care to visit once per week and assist her with cleaning and shopping. Greta’s daughter Anne and her family have decided to move back to Adelaide and share Greta’s home in order to assist caring for her. Socially, Greta enjoys attending her local Latvian club for their monthly activities. CVA and rehabilitation: Greta was gardening when she started to feel a headache coming on; she felt dizzy and nauseous. She went inside the house to have a rest and while washing her hands noticed her mouth and eye was drooping on the left side of her face. Greta was diagnosed with a R) cerebral vascular accident (CVA) and atrial fibrillation. She spent 14 days in an acute care hospital until she was medically stable.Greta then spent six weeks at the specialist stroke rehabilitation unit in a rehabilitation facility. She has mild residual L) sided hemiplegia and resolving dysphagia.Greta is very glad to be home and especially pleased that her daughter and her children have moved down from the country to live with her. She is not overly happy about her son-in- law John living with her, as she has never seen eye to eye with him. Greta is receiving regular in-home physiotherapy and a nurse comes to visit her once a week as a part of the home rehabilitation program. Case Mentor: Greta has returned home following rehabilitation and has been living with her daughter Anne, her husband, and two children for the past six weeks. Greta has lived alone since 1975 and is a little worried about the noise, and about having to share her space with others especially her daughter’s husband, John.Greta is concerned about her grandson, as he seems so much more distant than when she last saw him. She often thinks he smells like cigarettes; a smell she remembers from her late husband.Jessica, Greta’s granddaughter has been unwell too. The weather changes have upset her asthma and she had to be rushed to hospital last week. Greta did not like being in the house with just her son-in- law and Dylan and was very glad to see her daughter Anne home earlier the next morning. Question: 1.What psychological factors contribute to Dylan’s financial abuse of Greta and Greta being a victim of this form of abuse? 2.What sociological factors contribute to Dylan’s financial abuse of Greta and Greta being a victim of this form of abuse?