Older Adults and Their Families: An Interactional Intervention That Brings Forth Love and Softens Suffering

Abstract

When assisting older adults and their families, the most useful family nursing conceptual skill is embracing the belief that “illness is a family affair.” This illness belief summons a systemic or interactional focus specifically on relationship communication patterns. Uncovering maladaptive and distressing familial interactions, a family nurse can intervene and offer ideas for more loving and caring interactional patterns. Three brief and one detailed clinical case example, illustrating how to conceptualize interactional patterns and how to intervene, are offered. This article also presents the author’s firsthand caregiving experience with its accompanying joys and pitfalls. Despite her decades of clinical practice and professional assistance to numerous elderly families, the caregiving and interactions with her father held no guarantee of being filled with consistent care and love. Although not easily applicable to one’s own family, focusing on the interrelationships with the elderly and their families, the embedded interactional patterns become the crucial ingredient to facilitate more satisfying and loving relationships.

Family Dynamics and the Alzheimer’s Disease Experience

“…Understanding the role of family dynamics may be particularly useful for nurses as a tool to assess the type of support families may need, what strategies could be used, and what goals might be set within the AD experience. For instance, during the assessment, the nurse may explore family dynamics and in partnership decide what, if necessary, is required to promote a more loving and caring family interactions and thus reduce family conflict and suffering (Wright, 2019). As a result, family intervention strategies would be better tailored toward specific family dynamics helping to maximize their efficiency, while recognizing the diversity within individual families (International Family Nursing Association [IFNA], 2015).…”

“…Family care is widely considered a relational experience and takes place within a historical context of family interaction (Pallett, 1990; Poirier & Ayres, 2002). Research that focuses on living with a number of other long-term conditions stresses that a focus on family relationships and dynamics is necessary, if services are to reduce suffering and promote healthy family functioning (Arestedt et al, 2015; Bell, 2011; Garcia-Vivar et al, 2019; Rolland, 2017; Wright, 2019). To identify and implement appropriate support services that promote the health and well-being of the person living with AD and the family as a whole, it seems necessary to broaden our understanding of the relationships and dynamics that take place in families within the context of AD care.…”

Conquering Fear During Social-Distancing or Self-Quarantine: Even Fearing the Disappearance of Popcorn

“…While self-isolating many time management experts are advising a strict schedule to reduce anxiety and fears. But I recommend an odd day/even day ritual as another intervention on ourselves to manage our fears (Wright, 2019; Wright & Bell, 2009; Wright & Leahey, 2013). On even days, create a schedule for working, eating, exercising, and decreasing your news watching and increasing your connections with family, friends, and colleagues.…”

Vulnerability and quality of life of older persons in the community in different situations of family care

“…Essential aspects, such as maintaining independence and autonomy, good family functionality, preservation of the social role and productive activity, positive self-perception of health, maintenance of relationships, access, emotional comfort, spirituality, housing and financial security, must be guaranteed and associated to that older persons can maintain their quality of life. The concept of older persons' quality of life must be seen as a dynamic network of intertwined needs (9)(10)(11)(12)(13) .…”