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Explain how the assessments below reflect the NASW Code of Ethics….
Explain how the assessments below reflect the NASW Code of Ethics. Include two values and/or guiding principles to support your explanation.
According to domains of assessment by Christ, G. & Diwan, S (n.d), the seven domains of biopsychosocial assessment of older adults.
Physical well-being and health; Magda is an 81-year-old widowed female of Greek descent who lives independently. Five months ago, she fell and broke her hip and was also recently diagnosed with early signs of dementia. Following her surgery and rehabilitation, she complains of a lot of pain. When Magda returned home six months ago, she could no longer care for herself and her son John, and her daughter-in-law hired a woman to check in on her a few days out of the week, and the other days Helen goes in and checks in on her.
Assessment of family caregivers; Magda’s sons, John and Helen, hired a woman to come in and care for their mother a few days out of the week, and Helen would go and check on her the other days and sometimes twice a day. Helen wanted the helper to come in more often but could not afford it. John’s and Helen’s son Alec, offered to help his grandmother and help his mom from coming to care for Magda. I would have asked more questions about Alec since he has a substance abuse history and how stable he is in caring for his grandmother. I would have asked Magda how she felt about her grandson moving in.
Physical environment: Magda lives in an apartment in a suburban area, feels safe living independently, and has a routine she would follow. However, once Alec moved it, things started disappearing her medication, checks from her checkbook, and expensive jewelry; Helen did not want to report it to the police or John and didn’t tell Magda; instead, she put Magda in danger by leaving her with Alec who was using substances.
Social functioning: Before Magda’s fall, she broke her hip and was recently diagnosed with early signs of dementia. Magda attended weekly family dinners at her son’s house 30 minutes away, and she would drive herself shopping and to her church. Since her fall Madga doesn’t go out much; her only social interaction is with the woman who cared for her for a few days until Alec moved in with her and Helen, her daughter-in-law.
Ability to perform ADLS; Madga can no longer care for herself since her fall and being diagnosed with short-term dementia. She can no longer drive herself around to do her daily routines; she us to do so independently. She requires a caretaker to help her with the day-to-day stuff around the house.
Cognitive capacity- Madga’s cognitive capacity was different before her fall. Being diagnosed with short-term dementia, Helen buys food, cleans the house, pays the bills, and keeps track of Madga’s medication.
Psychological well-being and health- Magda could care for herself before her fall, where she needed surgery and rehabilitation. She was self-sufficient and could drive herself to stores, church, and her son’s house. She was excited to have Alec move in to be able to go around to her appointments, church, and other social outings. But that never happened Alec stole her medication and would leave her unattended at night. I would ask Magda if she would be willing to conduct some assessments about depression and anxiety.
Describe ways you would have supported Magda’s self-determination through the assessment and treatment-planning process. Include questions you would have asked Magda and her professional support system (doctors, nurses, etc.) to gain further insight into the situation.
In Magda’s situation, I would use the Comprehensive assessment, a screening tool in her case, incorporating her seven domains. I would have supported Magda’s self-determination through the assessment and treatment planning process by seeking the medical records of her care plan from the rehabilitation center and determining if Magda’s living conditions were safe. I would ask her doctor for their professional opinion and the care they feel suits Magda’s situation, given she was recently diagnosed with dementia. I would keep Magda informed of all the information given so she understands what is going on; ultimately, social workers are advocates for their clients and seek the best care. I would ask Magda if she would like to report he left her grandson since Helen never disclosed it to either Magda or John. I would ask her if she felt safe living in her apartment with her grandson. I would ask Magda if there were something else I could support her in.
Brandell, J. R. (Ed.). (2020). Theory & practice in clinical social work (3rd ed.). Cognella.
Chapter 15, “Clinical Practice With Older Adults” (pp. 334-355)
