Mark and Jacqueline have been married for 30 years. They have grown children who live in another
state. Jacqueline’s mother has moved in with the couple because she has Alzheimer’s disease.
Jacqueline is an only child and always promised her mother that she would care for her in her old
age. Her mother is unaware of her surroundings and often calls out for her daughter Jackie when
Jacqueline is in the room. Jacqueline reassures her mother that she is there to help, but to no avail.
Jacqueline is unable to visit her children on holidays because she must attend to her mother’s daily
needs. She is reluctant to visit friends or even go out to a movie because of her mother’s care needs
or because she is too tired. Even though she has eliminated most leisure activities with Mark,
Jacqueline goes to bed at night with many of her caregiving tasks unfinished. She tries to visit with
her mother during the day, but her mother rejects any contact with her daughter. Planning for the
upcoming holidays seems impossible to Mark, because of his wife’s inability to focus on anything
except her mother’s care.
Jacqueline has difficulty sleeping at night and is unable to discuss plans even a few days in
advance. She is unable to visit friends and is reluctant to have friends visit because of the
unpredictable behavior of her mother and her need to attend to the daily care.
Reflective Questions
1. How do you think this situation reflects Jacqueline’s sense of role performance?
2. How do you think that Jacqueline may be contributing to her own health?
Read the above case study and answer the reflective questions. Please provide evidence-based rationales for your answers. APA, 7th ed. must be followed.
- Jacqueline’s situation reflects a significant impact on her sense of role performance. As a caregiver to her mother with Alzheimer’s disease, Jacqueline has taken on the responsibility of fulfilling her promise to care for her in her old age. However, the demands of caregiving have taken a toll on Jacqueline’s ability to fulfill other roles in her life. She is unable to visit her children on holidays, socialize with friends, or engage in leisure activities with her husband. Jacqueline’s primary focus is on her mother’s care, which has resulted in a neglect of her other roles and responsibilities. This can lead to feelings of frustration, guilt, and a diminished sense of self as she is unable to fulfill her desired roles as a wife, mother, and friend.
Evidence-based rationale: The case study highlights Jacqueline’s limited ability to engage in activities beyond caregiving. This is consistent with the concept of role strain, which occurs when an individual experiences difficulty in meeting the expectations and responsibilities associated with multiple roles. The inability to balance caregiving responsibilities with other roles can have a negative impact on an individual’s sense of role performance and overall well-being (Marks, 1977).
- Jacqueline’s own health may be affected by her caregiving responsibilities and the challenges she faces in caring for her mother. She experiences difficulty sleeping at night, is unable to discuss plans in advance, and is constantly attending to her mother’s daily needs. These factors can contribute to chronic stress, physical exhaustion, and emotional strain, which can negatively impact Jacqueline’s health.
Evidence-based rationale: Caregiving for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease can have significant effects on the caregiver’s physical and mental health. Research has shown that caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are at a higher risk of experiencing sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, due to the demands of caregiving and the unpredictable behavior of the person with dementia (Willette-Murphy et al., 2006). Moreover, the chronic stress and burden associated with caregiving can lead to increased levels of fatigue, depressive symptoms, and decreased overall well-being (Schulz & Sherwood, 2008).
References:
Marks, S. R. (1977). Multiple roles and role strain: Some notes on human energy, time and commitment. American Sociological Review, 42(6), 921-936.
Schulz, R., & Sherwood, P. R. (2008). Physical and mental health effects of family caregiving. American Journal of Nursing, 108(9 Suppl), 23-27.
Willette-Murphy, K., Todero, C., & Yeaworth, R. (2006). Mental health and sleep of older wife caregivers for spouses with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 27(8), 837-852.