Nursing

Mabel is 84 years old and lives alone in her big two-story house in a community of 500 people. She takes a ‘water pill’ for her blood pressure when she remembers and it ‘works out’. She also has a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and takes Actos in the evening and Amaryl in the morning. After a prolonged decision making process with their only son Jack, her husband Bill, now lives in a memory care unit 20 miles away. Mabel drives to see Bill every day and tells you that she is ‘totally emotionally drained’ when she comes home from the visits.

Their son lives three hours away and is their Medical Power of Attorney. Jack is very concerned about his mother’s safety in the home, on the road, and also about her ability to deal with the emotional strain of having her husband’s health deteriorate. Jack wants to help, but is at a loss and cannot quit his job to come and live near his mother.

You are the registered nurses in the local clinic where both Mabel and her husband have received care for many years. She also attends the same church as you and you see her most Sundays. Mabel tells you that she misses her husband at home very, very much. She tells you that although she loves her son and respects his wishes, she is still upset about her husband’s move to the memory care unit. She also tells you that she tries to take her medication, but it is hard to take her ‘water pill’ regularly as she is in the car driving every day. She confides in you that she doesn’t eat regularly since she no longer cooks for her husband. She is concerned about the future and admits feeling

‘overwhelmed’, and like her life has spun ‘out of control’ since her husband’s move. She no longer has time to socialize with her long time friends since she spends so much time on the road to see her husband.

How might Mabel’s situation be addressed? For this assignment, you can make the assumption that the nurses at the Care Center are taking good care of Mabel's husband. How will you care for Mabel?