SOWK 589A Case Management Client: Mr. Fuller

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Case Management Client: Mr. Fuller


Recent History

Joseph Fuller is a single 73-year-old African American male who resides alone in a mobile park home, which has been his residence for the past 10 years. Joseph recognizes that something is not right in his life, in fact, several months ago he admitted to his adult daughter Gloria that sometimes he would get lost when driving familiar routes that were in close proximity to his house. Since that admission, he had several tense encounters with close relations who claimed to have his best interest at heart, yet intruded upon his privacy at every turn, it seemed. Consequently, Joseph decided to put some distance between himself, his adult children, and anyone else who questioned the way he did things.


Nine Months Later

Nine months passed since his disclosure, and Joseph gradually adapted to changing circumstances; however, his adult children and those who knew him witnessed a disturbing decline in his dress and hygiene, and household maintenance.

One day his daughter and two sons attempted a family intervention in hope that they could convince Joseph to live with one of them. He remained resolute in his desire to live alone. He resented their insistence that he was incapable of taking care of himself and that driving his car was not a good idea. He reveled in their surprise when he whipped out his new driving license; the idea that they thought he couldn’t pass the test annoyed him. They shouldn’t tell him how to live his life! He was prepared to deal with whatever challenges life brought as he aged. He was a fighter, always had been and would continue to be!


Another Three Months

Three months after that fiasco of a meeting with his children, Joseph answered a knock at the door to find the mobile park manager and his daughter. He stepped outside, closing the door behind him, and heard incomprehensible things being said to him.

The manager issued a litany of complaints: two months behind in rent, neighbors offended by his unkempt appearance and putrid odor, overgrown landscaping, cats meowing at all hours, ill-timed walks around the mobile park, cantankerous encounters with residents, and inappropriate use of public toilet facilities. Through a maze of confusion he attempted to respond to the round of complaints, but in utter futility, ended up conceding to their request to enter his premises. He let his daughter enter but refused the manager.


Daughter's Perspective

Daughter’s perspective: when Joseph opened the door, aside from his soiled clothing and unshaven face, Gloria Howard knew at once that her father was in trouble. An overpowering, acrid scent emanated from her father, suggesting some type of neglected medical condition. He spoke in a halted manner, as if words were difficult to find and string together into coherent sentences. His eyes had the look of a bewildered and lost person, and he looked much thinner than the last time she saw him.


His Residence

Upon entering his home, Gloria's senses were further assaulted. It was a hot summer day, yet all of the windows were closed in this small, contained space. The mixed scents of cat litter, rotting food, and bodily waste made it nearly impossible to breathe. Whereas her father had always been neat and an impeccable dresser, the home reflected little of that person she knew.

In the kitchen, opened cat food cans were strewn about the floor, flies hovered over unwashed dishes in the sink, the garbage was overflowing, and the refrigerator contained nothing of nutritional value. Opened and unopened bills and papers were piled high on the front room coffee table. The bathroom fixtures did not work and stood in filth. Last, in her father’s bedroom, the wardrobe revealed a sadder truth. Several suit pants stained with tracks of dried urine lay tousled about the floor. Shoes that once were perfectly lined in the closet were scattered about the room, and dresser drawers were jammed with dirty clothes. Her father’s precious and worn Alcoholics Anonymous book, and other significant life memorabilia, lay in disarray among tangled, dirty bed clothing.


Help!

Guilt washed across Gloria as she took it all in and realized how tenuous her father’s mental state had become since their last meeting. If not for the phone call from the mobile park manager, she would not have visited him . . . their few phone conversations were difficult enough. Now she knew that something had to be done, whether he liked it or not. They needed help!

5.6 Case Management: Mr. Fuller—Community Resources

Consider your case management client, Mr. Fuller, who was introduced in the previous unit. As you reflect on his situation, and upon the forum posts of your colleagues, what community resources do you think would be helpful to assist with Mr. Fuller's case?

Consider that Mr. Fuller lives in the same community in which you live and will practice. Perform a community/environmental scan of what resources exist in your own community that potentially could be helpful with Mr. Fuller's case. Take note if there are any gaps in needed or desired resources.

Using the Community Resource Form (in the Toolbox), make a list of potential agencies and services in your own community that could be helpful in this case. Fill in the form with detailed information (types of service, contact information, cost of services, etc.) and upload the form in the Assignment Upload and Grading unit.

    • 5 years ago
    SOWK 589A Case Management Client: Mr. Fuller
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