A Hypothetical Therapy Case - Term Paper Example

? A Hypothetical Therapy Case A Hypothetical Therapy Case This is a hypothetical therapy case involving an elderly husband seeking therapy because his wife has Alzheimer disease. The elderly husband also has information that his grandson is physically and verbally abusive though he has not witnessed this. Notably, Alzheimer disease is a dementia characterized by problems in thinking, behavior, and memory. The disease is more prominent with the elderly who are more than 65 years old. The disease progresses with time and has no immediate cure. Nevertheless, drug and non-drug treatments may help to regulate cognitive and behavioral symptoms. On the other hand, the elderly husband should beware that putting his elderly wife who is suffering from Alzheimer disease is not advisable since it may lead to adverse ethical, financial, legal, and social issues. As such, the elderly husband and other family members should adopt a behavioral approach that will help them care for the elderly woman. The elderly husband should instead opt for assisted living in order to help his wife get the best medical and personal care. This can take place in their apartment. He should realize that the elderly woman still has remaining abilities despite suffering from Alzheimer disease. The elderly woman will generate positive emotions when there is an engagement of her capabilities and morale. Indeed, caring for her will develop a psychological well-being and reduce the symptoms despite the disease being progressive. More so, sharing time, responsibilities, and activities together with the elderly woman who is suffering from Alzheimer disease will have a positive effect on everyone. The assisted living should be consistent and frequent. Indeed, the elderly husband will have to engage the capabilities and morale of his wife every day. On the issue of the grandson being abusive, the physician has an obligation to report the claims to the authorities. This will ultimately help the grandson, the elderly husband, and the elderly woman who is suffering from Alzheimer disease. However, the psychologists will encounter various challenges in reporting elder abuse to the authorities. Most notably, psychologists will face very significant ethical issues in reporting elder abuse. APA Ethics Code's requires people to report suspected elder abuse and neglect for purposes of ensuring respect for people's rights and dignity (Zeranski & Halgin, 2011). Indeed, because psychologists interact with the aging American population, the psychologists must be aware of clinical issues and ethical issues that may arise from interacting with the elderly. Some of the ethical issues that this case will present include the uncertainty among the psychologists on how to respond to the claim of abuse on the elderly woman because it is a less explicit case. Moreover, the alleged abuse took place at the victims’ house. This presents a legal and ethical issue in that reporting the grandson would seem like disintegrating the family. The psychologist will struggle to balance clinical and ethical needs required by the victim (Zeranski & Halgin, 2011. This is because the grandson may be required to assist the elderly woman to live after the Alzheimer disease diagnosis. More so, the law in Alabama requires the psychologist to disclose confidential information to the elderly woman’s family with a view of protecting her from harm. Hence, ethics expect the psychologist to contact the elder's next of kin or family member with an aim of securing the elderly woman from future harm (Zeranski & Halgin, 2011). However, the abuser whom the psychologist should report is also part of the elder’s family thus raising ethical issues on whom to disclose confidential information of the elderly woman. Additionally, this case will present an ethical issue in that there is a conflict of interest between the elders and grandson in reporting the abuse case. The psychologist will also face ethical dilemmas in deciding the confidentiality of the abuse claim and establishing the ability for the elderly woman to give an informed consent. Personally, I would report the situation. Notably, as a psychologist in Alabama, the law regards me as a mandated reporter of adult abuse (Zeranski & Halgin, 2011). Indeed, the elder abuse laws cover my state and so I have a mandate to report such cases. The laws mandate reporting of suspected abuse cases in Alabama (Zeranski & Halgin, 2011). Moreover, I have a reasonable cause to believe that the elderly woman was actually suffering from the abuse as she confessed. At the same time, the allegation for elder abuse came from a person of higher age and should thus ensure protective services interventions by reporting this case. Ideally, I would report the case to the adult protective services agencies. This would allow them to investigate the claims and take the necessary action aimed at protecting the elderly woman from future harm. It is challenging for psychologists.to negotiate the obligation to report abuse while preserving the therapeutic relationship. However, I would negotiate the intended and unintended consequences of my decision to report the abuse claim to the adult protective services agencies. I will do this by allowing the adult protective services agencies to investigate the abuse. More so, I will make sure that I report the abuse claims within the timeframe required by the law. This will give the adult protective services agencies enough time to investigate and respond to the claims thus preserving the therapeutic relationship with the elderly woman. Additionally, I will include detailed and objective clinical observations in the patient's chart while reporting the claim to the adult protective services agencies. At the same time, I will also include direct quotes from the elderly woman with a view of preserving the therapeutic relationship with her. Moreover, I will rely on the mandated reporting clauses to indemnify me in case the adult protective services agencies do not substantiate my reporting. However, I will seek to provide enough evidence of such abuses with a view of protecting the victim from future harm (Small., Lyons., & Guy, 2002). Ideally, there are additional ethical considerations relevant to mandated reporting which apply to this case. Issues like ascertaining whether the claims of elder abuse are true pose ethical considerations to mandated reporting in this case. In addition, I would also encounter ethical considerations while consulting other medical professionals on whether to report the abuse. Some professional may be unethical and thus discourage me from reporting this case. At the same time, the ethical behavior of the elderly woman may conflict with my professional; ethics thus generating ethical considerations in reporting the case. References Small, M. A., Lyons, P. R., Jr., & Guy, L. S. (2002). Liability issues in child abuse and neglect reporting statutes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33(1), 13–18. Zeranski, L., & Halgin, R. P. (2011). Ethical issues in elder abuse reporting: A professional psychologist's guide. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(4), 294–300. Read More