Overview
In this discussion forum post one of the ethical dilemmas that are present in the case study linked below.You will need to specifically reference the NASW Code of Ethics. Also, please include what kind of additional information that you would need to collect in order to know what you should do in this case.
Case study
Ray, age 80, and his wife Jean, age 75, have been married for over 50 years. He suffered a stroke
several years ago. Jean takes of Ray at home, with the help of two of her four children and
occasional assistance from a home health agency.
Ray is difficult to care for at home. He is not only heavy, but his left arm and leg are partially
paralyzed, making mobility difficult. He becomes verbally abusive when immobility,
incontinence, noisy grandchildren, and other irritations frustrate him. He has adamantly refused to
consider going to a nursing home or other care center. Jean provides care for him although it
takes a toll on her physical and psychological well-being. She would feel extremely guilty about
having to send Ray to a nursing home or any other facility. Her own mother cared for her father
when he became frail and infirm.
Ray had always been the family breadwinner; working at the same factory for 30 years and
retiring at age 65. Jean had stayed home and had raised four children. Ray had abused alcohol and
was alternately verbally abusive or morose when he had too much to drink. He had stopped
drinking when he was 55 and attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings regularly for several
years.
Ray and Jean’s youngest child, Marge, has struggled with addiction to cocaine and other drugs.
Currently, she is serving a jail term for possession of cocaine. Because her addiction has
interfered with her parenting abilities, Jean and Ray have been the primary caregivers for Marge’s
son Jason, now a teenager, since he was a small child. Jason has been skipping school and he is
uncommunicative. Recently, the police arrested him and two friends after they tried to steal some
CD’s from a local music store.
Miranda, another daughter, is concerned that Jean can no longer meet the needs of her husband
and grandson. Jean is not attending to her own physical and mental health. Miranda would like to
spend more time helping her parents, but her work as an office manager for a small construction
company keeps her busy. Miranda’s employers are generally not willing to give her the time off
needed to support her parents and as a small company, do not offer Family and Medical Leave.
When Miranda does try to help her parents with household chores or transportation to medical
appointments, she finds herself becoming angry and impatient with her father, who was often
verbally abusive to her and her siblings when she was growing up.
Miranda has contacted you, a social worker in a family service agency, to talk about ways to “get
help” for her parents. You need to assess the Ray and Jean’s situation so that you will have
enough information that will lead to a plan that can help the family through this life stage
transition.
Multigenerational Issues and Caregiving Case Study Hood College, Social Work Program CSWE
National Center for Geriatric Education