Case Intervention Study Of Elderly Caregivers Of Patients With Mental Disorder

The high percentage of unmarried people with mental illness has led to a lack of spouses or child caregivers for this group.This group not only faces the hardships and stresses of old age,but also the burden of caring for children with mental illness.This paper focuses on a case study of an elderly caregiver with mental illness as a case study for intervention.The authors’ case study shows that elderly caregivers often have complex"ambivalence" toward their mentally ill children and face various risks.First,guilt and caregiving boredom:Older caregivers with mental illness often have unreasonable perceptions of the illness and solidly believe that their child’s illness is caused by their parental failure,which leads to strong guilt;as older adults,caregivers have a heavy caregiving burden due to the deterioration of their physical functions,but they have to continue to take care of their children due to severe guilt.However,due to the severe guilt towards children,they have to continue to take care of their children and thus become tired of caring.Second,filial expectation and parental responsibility:Older parents desire their children to take care of them and want their support needs to be met,so they have filial expectations of their children,but people with mental illness are often unable to fulfill their obligations as children;parents who are sick children will continue to internalize the social expectations of their mothers and fathers and strive to fulfill their care responsibilities,but this also brings a This also places a great burden and pressure on older parents.Third,the contradiction between social needs and stigma:when people reach old age,they tend to feel a certain amount of loneliness and have a strong social need;the stigma associated with mental illness can prevent elderly caregivers from developing social behaviors.The authors primarily used life review therapy,supplemented by other case intervention techniques,to conduct a practical intervention study with the clients,in which they channeled the elderly caregivers’ emotions,explored good qualities,reduced ambivalence toward the ill woman,and helped them to resolve their worries,rediscover the value and meaning of their lives,and ultimately achieve self-integration.In the later stages of the intervention,we also continued to help the client regain her interests and focus on herself.In practice,we also explored and summarized the effectiveness of strategies for elderly caregivers with mental disorders and analyzed the reasons for the effectiveness of the strategies.According to the results of individual case assessment and subjective assessment,the use of life review therapy in the first stage and linking to the surrounding resources in the later stage,the elderly caregivers of patients with mental disorders can change their low state,eliminate their negative emotions,affirm the positive meaning and value of their lives and face their future lives with a positive and optimistic attitude under the guidance of social workers.In terms of intervention strategies for elderly caregivers with mental disorders,combining the content of interviews and intervention effects,the authors conclude that three aspects are needed to eliminate the ambivalent state of mind and various risks of this group.First,improve disease awareness:weaken the association between parents and children’s illnesses so as to reduce the guilt of elderly caregivers;also educate about the causes and manifestations of abnormal behavior of mental illnesses so as to reduce elderly parents’ filial expectations of their sick children;educate about disease care so as to reduce the burden of elderly caregivers.Second,focus on self-efficacy:review important life events with the clients and trace their life history,in the process,find their value and contribution in life;create their own highlight moments with important people or important family members in their lives to enhance their sense of self-worth;according to the life review experience,explore the hobbies of their youth,encourage the clients to regain their hobbies in life and input The hope of life in the present.Third,link to other resources:focus on long-term companionship with the client,reduce the time the caregiver spends alone to relieve tension and anxiety;broaden social channels,integrate into online communities,and meet social needs;let the caregiver fully understand the local welfare policy on illness to reduce anxiety about caregiving at the end of the day.