Strategies to Enhance Quality of Life

Posted: April 4th, 2019

Read the following case study and answer the reflective questions. Please provide evidence-based rationales for your answers. APA, 7th ed. must be followed. ead the following case study and answer the reflective questions. Please provide evidence-based rationales for your answers. APA, 7th ed. must be followed.

CASE STUDY: An Older Immigrant Couple: Mr. and Mrs. Arahan

Mr. and Mrs. Arahan, an older couple in their seventies, have been living with their oldest daughter, her husband of 15 years, and their two children, ages 12 and 14. They all live in a middle-income neighborhood in a suburb of a metropolitan city. Mr. and Mrs. Arahan are both college educated and worked full-time while they were in their native country. In addition, Mr. Arahan, the only offspring of wealthy parents, inherited a substantial amount of money and real estate. Their daughter came to the United States as a registered nurse and met her husband, a drug company representative. The older couple moved to the United States when their daughter became a U.S. citizen and petitioned them as immigrants. Since the couple was facing retirement, they welcomed the opportunity to come to the United States.he Arahans found life in the United States different from that in their home country, but their adjustment was not as difficult because both were healthy and spoke English fluently. Most of their time was spent taking care of their two grandchildren and the house. As the grandchildren grew older, the older couple found that they had more spare time. The daughter and her husband advanced in their careers and spent a great deal more time at their jobs. There were few family dinners during the week. On weekends, the daughter, her husband, and their children socialized with their own friends. The couple began to feel isolated and longed for a more active life.

Mr. and Mrs. Arahan began to think that perhaps they should return to the home country, where they still had relatives and friends. However, political and economic issues would have made it difficult for them to live there. Besides, they had become accustomed to the way of life in the United States with all the modern conveniences and abundance of goods that were difficult to obtain in their country. However, they also became concerned that they might not be able to tolerate the winter months and that minor health problems might worsen as they aged. They wondered who would take care of them if they became very frail and where they would live, knowing that their daughter had only saved money for their grandchildren’s college education. They expressed their sentiments to their daughter, who became very concerned about how her parents were feeling.This older couple had been attending church on a regular basis, but had never been active in other church-related activities. The church bulletin announced the establishment of parish nursing with two retired registered nurses as volunteers. The couple attended the first opening of the parish clinic. Here, they met one of the registered nurses, who had a short discussion with them about the services offered. The registered nurse had spent a great deal of her working years as a community health

nurse. She informed Mr. and Mrs. Arahan of her availability to help them resolve any health-related issues.Reflective Questions

1. What strategies could be suggested for this older adult couple to enhance their quality of life?

2. What community resources can they utilize?

3. What can the daughter and her family do to address the feelings of isolation of the older couple? 4. What health promotion activities can ensure a healthy lifestyle for the

Strategies to Enhance Quality of Life
Social Engagement – The couple could get more involved in activities at their church like a senior social group to meet other older adults and reduce feelings of isolation (Cudjoe & Kotwal, 2020). Local senior centers often have clubs, classes, and trips they could join as well.
Continued Education – Taking an adult learning class at a nearby community college on topics that interest them could provide intellectual stimulation and social interaction (Findsen & McCullough, 2017). Many colleges offer discounted tuition for seniors.
Volunteering – Volunteering a few hours a week at a local charity, hospital, or school could give them a sense of purpose and connect them to the community (Li & Ferraro, 2006). The church nurse mentioned their parish could use volunteers.
Community Resources
Parish Nursing Program – As mentioned in the case, the church has a parish nursing program that offers health services and support. Connecting with the nurses regularly could help address any physical or social needs (Drenkard, 2017).
Senior Center – Their city or county likely has a senior center that provides meals, transportation, exercise classes, trips, and opportunities for socializing with peers (Cudjoe & Kotwal, 2020).
Local Council on Aging – This government agency coordinates services and programs for older adults, including support groups, caregiver resources, and referral to additional assistance (Krout et al., 2002).
Adult Protective Services – If needed in the future, this agency investigates elder abuse and arranges interventions to ensure their safety (Teaster et al., 2015).
The daughter and her family could have regular family dinners together at least once a week to maintain close bonds and support the couple’s social-emotional wellbeing (Fingerman et al., 2015). Offering help with transportation, appointments, and errands would also help them feel less isolated (Cudjoe & Kotwal, 2020). Their involvement in intergenerational activities with their grandchildren could further enrich all of their lives.
To promote healthy aging, the couple should continue regular medical checkups, follow treatment plans as needed, stay physically and mentally active, eat a nutritious diet, avoid excessive alcohol, and get sufficient rest (WHO, 2020). The parish nurses or senior center could help monitor their health and wellness.
Drenkard, K. (2017). The growth of the faith community nurse movement. Journal of Christian Nursing, 34(3), 162–169. https://doi.org/10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000401
Findsen, B., & McCullough, S. (2017). Lifelong learning in later life: Ambitions and realities. Bristol University Press.
Fingerman, K. L., Cheng, Y. P., Wesselmann, E. D., Zarit, S., Furstenberg, F., & Birditt, K. S. (2015). Helicopter parents and landing pad kids: Intense parental support of grown children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(4), 864–876. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12168
Krout, J. A., Cutler, S. J., & Coward, R. T. (2002). Correlates of intensive life planning among older persons. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 57(2), P117–P127. homework help writing assignment service https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/57.2.P117
Li, Y., & Ferraro, K. F. (2006). Volunteering in middle and later life: Is health a benefit, barrier or both? Social Forces, 85(1), 497–519. https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.2006.0132
Teaster, P. B., Nerenberg, L., & Stansbury, K. L. (2015). A national look at elder abuse multidisciplinary teams. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 17(4), 369–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/08946566.2005.10566092
WHO. (2020, December 1). Ageing and health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health