Mikaela Bernadette Lao Jiz de Ortega Block DDD

Individual Activity #1- Case Study Analysis (Garcia Family)

Analyze the given case and Answer questions provided.

The Garcia family consists of Mr. Garcia, 42 years old; Mrs. Garcia, 36 years old;
Mrs. Garcia’s mother, 62 years old; Jose, 14 years old; Anna, 12 years old; and
Carlos, 4 years old. Mr. Garcia works as a city bus driver. All six members lived
in a crowded apartment in the center of the city. Mrs. Garcia recently solved the
problem of someone needing to care for her mother who has Alzheimer’s
disease by quitting her job as a secretary to care for her. She tells the nurse she
used to enjoy entertaining her children’s friends but now asks them not to visit
because her mother needs quiet.

1. What type of family do the Garcia’s represent? Who do you think is the family
problem solver? The health supervisor? The gatekeeper?

Answer:

An extended family is a family that extends beyond the nuclear family, including
grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives, who all live nearby or in one
household. And in that case the Garcia family can be considered as an extended
family in the sense that Mrs. Garcia’s mother and nephew Carlos (4 years old)
are in the same household as them.

Problem solver, Health supervisor and Gatekeeper are different family roles. A
problem Solver is the one whom the family depend on to provide a solution to
problems. A health supervisor is the one who makes healthcare decisions,
ensures family members keep health appointments, immunizations are kept
current, and preventive care. A gatekeeper is the one who determines what
information will be release from the family or what new information can be
introduced. In the Garcia household/family, Mrs. Garcia (36 years old) is the
family’s problem solver, health supervisor and gatekeeper all in one. She is a
problem solver because thinks critically and found a way in order to provide care
for her sick mother. She is a health supervisor because in line with giving up her
job for her sick mother she became her mother’s health supervisor by assessing
and corresponding to her needs. She is also a gatekeeper because she has the
ability to control and access something like asking her children’s friends not to
visit due to their sick relative.
2. What is the stage of the Garcia family? Would their situation be different if the
children were other ages?

Answer:

The family’s developmental stage is the family with an adolescent (oldest child is
between 13 and 20 years of age) because the oldest in their family is a 14 years
old boy named Jose. This family stage is the 5 th and their goals are to loosen ties
enough to allow an adolescent more freedom while still remaining safe and to
begin to prepare adolescents for life on their own.

Their family’s situation will definitely be better if their ages would also be
different. The eldest child is 14 and the second is 12. Both are in their early
adolescence and still can’t be depended enough on certain family responsibilities
because their impulsivity and recklessness often wins over intellectual and
mature growth. Unlike if they were to be 7-8 years older, (in their early
adulthood) with better judgement and are willing to take responsibilities then
surely their mother’s burden will be less of a problem.

3. Carlos was adopted because his mother, Mrs. Garcia’s sister, died in a car
accident. What are special concerns of adopted children you need to consider
when giving nursing care?

An adopted child is when the person assumes the parenting of another, It often

deals with the child’s Grief, separation, Self-esteem, identity, attachment issues,
school challenges and other mental and health challenges that will affect the adopted
person one way or another. Whatever the child's history, the nurse should take note
that responsive parenting is key to a secure, loving relationship. Because the keys
to forming a healthy attachment are the same whether a child has been adopted or
born into a family. In this family’s case it is Carlos who lost a mother and was
adopted by his aunt. Carlos might be dealing with serious emotional problems due
to the fact that he lost his mother at a tender age of 4. But whatever the child's
history, the nurse should take note that responsive parenting is key to a secure,
loving relationship. Because the keys to forming a healthy attachment are the
same whether a child has been adopted or born into a family. The nurse should
focus on the psychological aspect of the child by communicating openly and
honestly, Be emotionally and physically available, and listen whenever your child
has something to say. You can always advice the adoptive mother that she
needs to provide a stable, loving home, be consistent and predictable for the
child. Be as patient and flexible as the child makes these adjustments.