The following is a brief case study exemplifying the benefits of a Geriatric Case Manager who is also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: A Therapeutic Case Manager.
-Drew Ross, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Mrs. M. is a 93-year-old widow living in her own home. Her primary diagnosis is moderate to severe dementia. A conservator, who at the time I was asked to get involved was having some difficulty with the family members participating in Mrs. M’s care, is handling her estate. The primary care giver was her niece, who she was very enmeshed with. Mrs. M’s daughter was also very much involved and the family dynamic was such that while Mrs. M. was making some of her own decisions, her niece/caregiver and daughter were at extreme odds about how and who should care for Mrs. M.
After assessing the situation and spending time talking to and hearing from all of the parties involved it became clear that while the care of Mrs. M. was the primary objective, the family dynamic issues were so dysfunctional and entangled that getting to a place of calm and appropriate care would require working with this family individually and as a unit. I began to meet individually with the daughter, the niece, and of course Mrs. M. What came out of those initial sessions was a rapport and trust in me and an arena for each to express themselves in an honest and open way. I was able to provide each of them some release for some of the long-term family issues that clouded each of their ability to see what was truly in the best interest of Mrs. M. I worked with Mrs. M. to gain insight in to what her wishes were for her care and using stimulative therapies to engage Mrs. M. and maintain her current level of cognitive functioning.
