Impact of Life Events on Individuals

This assignment delves into the profound impact of life events on individuals across various domains. It encourages students to analyze how significant occurrences like bereavement, relationship changes, and job loss can affect an individual's psychological well-being, social relationships, and overall health. The assignment draws upon relevant academic literature and theoretical frameworks to provide a comprehensive understanding of this complex issue.

Supporting Significant
Life Events

Table of Contents
Introduction .........................................................................................................................................3
Task 1....................................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Impact of significant life events on individuals .......................................................................3
1.2 Possible group responses to significant life events that occur to one of its members. ............4
1.3 Impact for others in health and social care when individuals experience life changes.............4
2.1 Effectiveness of organizational policies and procedures in supporting individuals..................4
2.2 How others in social networks may provide support to individuals..........................................5
2.3 Suitability of external sources of support for those affected with significant life events..........6
3.1 Analysis of organizational responses to need to support individuals........................................6
3.2 Reflective account......................................................................................................................7
3.3 Recommendations for improving support in health and social care organizations...................8
Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................................8
References............................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Significant life events can be explained as all those events that occur in an individual’s life.
Major life events in a person’s life include puberty, marriage, child birth, death of loved ones,
migration to other regions, chronic physical and mental illness, loss of independence due to old age.
In addition to these, other life changing events include getting job, unemployment, and change in
occupation, etc (Allen, 2015). These events constitute significant changes in the life of individuals
and with every change they need to adopt values and attitudes to incorporate such alterations. The
present report explores the impact of significant life events on individuals and analyses their
influence on others in health and social care to support individuals going through such events. The
second task of the report elaborates the understanding of support available to individuals who
experience significant life events. The final task of the report analyses the responses of health and
social care services to support individuals going through major life events.
TASK 1
1.1 Impact of significant life events on individuals
Life events such as marriage, birth of children, death of family members, loss of job, major
ailment and old age significantly influence interpersonal relationships, occupation and physical and
mental wellness of individuals. In the given scenario Sylvia was 84 years old woman was diagnosed
with breast cancer and died (de Jong and et.al.,2015). She used to live in small sheltered housing
project with her 40 year old friend Robin. It can be observed from the given case that Sylvia and
other residents of the housing shelter did not live with their families. All the residents were going
through different ailments associated with progressive age and did not want to stay alone at home.
Due to this they engaged in outdoor activities such as gardening. Carers at the shelter are
responsible to provide cares services to elderly patients. It has been observed in the case that old
residents used to go out for walk in order to maintain their health. However Sylvia was diagnosed
with breast cancer but she refused to take treatment. Carers in the given case respected her wish and
she passed away. Thus it can be explained that age and feeling of loneliness have significant impact
on Sylvia. She lived in a small shelter home which indicates that the old woman has no family was
alone. Feeling of isolation has significant impact on the mental wellbeing of Sylvia. Due to this she
refused for availing treatment to cure her breast cancer (Gold and Thorp and Mumford, 2010). Thus
it can be inferred that other than physical impact old age and isolation has negatively affected
emotional and social wellbeing of Sylvia in the given scenario.

1.2 Possible group responses to significant life events that occur to one of its members.
Family members, friends, occupational and social network play very important role in
supporting individuals who experience significant life events. It can be analysed that these groups
help individuals to cope up with major life events. In the given scenario, Sylvia and other residents
of the shelter project help each other in every task (Kellehear, 2015). They prefer to carry out group
tasks rather than living in isolation. For instance, elderly residents engaged themselves in gardening
at community garden. In addition to this, they also go out for walks to remain active in old age.
From this, it can be analysed that group responses in the given case play very positive role in the
life of Sylvia and other elderly people who were experiencing old age and isolation from their
families. In addition to this, it can be analysed that all the members in the given scenario chat with
each other which had been a great support system for each other. They are almost of same age
group and thus understand each other situations in a comprehensive manner.
1.3 Impact for others in health and social care when individuals experience life changes
Health and social care professionals significantly impact individuals going through major
life changes. For example if an old person is suffering from dementia and has no family then it is
the responsibility of health and social care workers to take proper care of dementia patient.
Similarly for a child who suffers from learning disability need to be cared by his family as well as
care professionals to support him to overcome his disability and help him in attaining important life
goals. If proper care is not provided by family and care workers then it may negatively impact
intellectual and physical growth of the child (Milner, Myers and O'Byrne, 2015). In the given
scenario, Sylvia and other old patients are cared by carers. It can be analysed that carers were
primarily responsible for assessing healthcare needs of Sylvia and other old people. The carer in the
given scenario diagnosed Sylvia with breast cancer and tried to provide her treatment for the same.
However, Sylvia expressed her will to refuse care services to cure her condition. Care workers in
the case respected her wish and did not plan a care routine for her. It can be analysed that care
workers in health and social care setting in UK are required to treat patients in dignified manner and
respect opinions of service users.
TASK 2
2.1 Effectiveness of organizational policies and procedures in supporting individuals
Organizational policies and procedures play important role in supporting individuals who
experience significant life events. Health and social settings need to develop and implement various
organizational policies and practices to safeguard the rights of service users (Mullins, 2007). Such
policies and procedures rely largely on maintain confidentiality, bereavement and providing
effective care services to care takers. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of policies and practices
of social organization in the given scenario, following points can be discussed: In the given case,

Stella is a victim of domestic violence. She has been physically, financially and sexually abused by
her husband. She also has three kids. One day she decided to move out from the house and seek
support from a social organization called Save the Family. The organization provided suitable
support to Stella and her three children. It can be evaluated that Save the Family helped Stella to
combat her financial hardships. In addition to this the staff of the firm also provided emotional
support to the victim of domestic abuse. Thus it can be evaluated that the organization has played
very cardinal role in supporting Stella and her three children to overcome domestic violence.
Besides this the staff of the social organization play very crucial role in building the confidence and
boosting the moral in Stella so that she can handle her situation in an effective manner. Employees
of Save the Family are required to follow organizational policies and practices which are in line
with legal framework. The legal policies include various acts that are formulated by UK
government to provide guidelines to health and social care organizations. These are Equality Act
2010, Health and Safety at Work 1974, Data Protection Act 1998, etc (Naidoo and Wills, 2015).
According to Equality Act 2010, Save the Family has to treat every service users on the grounds of
equality irrespective of their race, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, age and
gender. The social organization is also required to protect the personal information of clients from
unauthorized access. For this Save the Family is required to make organizational policies and
procedures which are as per Data Protection Act 1998. To ensure health and safety of service users,
the guidelines of Health and Safety Act 1974 can be inculcated in the organizational policies and
practices of Save The Family in the given scenario.
2.2 How others in social networks may provide support to individuals
An individual gets support from his family members and friends during the difficult phase of
his or her life. Social support play very positive role in improving the quality of life and helping
individuals in coping with crisis (Owen, 2009). The social support can be provided in different
forms which include: Emotional Support, Informational support and Instrumental support.
Emotional support is referred to certain actions that make individuals feel cared for. It plays very
cardinal role in pacifying the agitated mental state of individuals who experience significant life
events. In the given scenario, the staff of Save the Family play very important role in providing
emotional support to Stella. This helped her in gaining confidence which is very important for
victims of domestic violence to make a new beginning in life. Instrumental support includes
physical and financial assistance to individuals who went through a tragic life event such as housing
and money. In the given scenario Save the Family organization has provided housing as well as
financial support to Stella and her children. Other support is referred to Informational Support
which includes helping individuals with means of information and education. In the given scenario,
the social organization has provided a 10 week course for Stella in order to help her in coping with

her tragic marriage. Thus it can be analysed that effective support system from trusted members of
family or other social network is very essential in minimizing psychological and physiological
stress among individuals going through significant life changes (edler and Burgoyne and Boydell,
2006). Other than family members, co-workers and community members also positively affect the
support system of individuals.
2.3 Suitability of external sources of support for those affected with significant life events
External sources of support may be very beneficial for those individuals who experience
significant life events. These external sources include support from health and social care
professionals, self-help groups, support groups and health counsellors (Pitman, Osborn, Rantell and
King, 2016). They play very important role in providing effective support to individuals of different
age groups and with varied experience of life events. The suitability of these external sources
depends greatly on different outcomes. For example if a person who suffer from severe depression
recovers from a person centric care approach then in that case the approach would be considered
suitable to bring positive outcomes. In addition to this, there are certain support therapies which
positively affect persons in need. These therapies include counselling, discussions in communities,
aromatherapy and social gatherings of individuals who suffer from common health or social issues.
Similarly in the given case, Stella seeks support from a social organization and gets benefitted with
the services of the firm. Besides this, Save the Family provides 10 week course to Stella in order to
boost her moral to overcome her hardship and lead a quality life. It can be evaluated that support
groups play integral role in bringing individuals together experience similar ailment or major life
problems. In the given scenario Stella came to know about other victims of domestic violence at
Save the Family organization (Madge and et.al., 2011). Apart from this support groups provide
several other benefits such as helping individuals to overcome their feeling of loneliness and
helplessness, providing emotional, instrumental and informational support, ameliorating the sense
of adjustment, helping individuals to develop better coping skills and making arrangements for
providing effective treatment in case of physical or mental illness.
TASK 3
3.1 Analysis of organizational responses to need to support individuals
Organizational responses differ from situation to situation. This can greatly impact
organizational actions. A health and social care organizational may carry out situational analysis to
determine appropriate responses to deal with that situation. Organizational responses also depend
on various outcomes (McGill, 2007). It can be analysed that if a patient’s physical and mental
condition is improving due to sound care plan then in that case the care organization may continue
to deliver superior quality of services. Many times it happens that in spite of giving proper
treatment the individuals lose their lives. Thus, it is the responsibility of care organization to

provide advance directives to the patient and his family members. If the care professionals think
that the service user will not survive for long than in that case effective communication need to be
done in order to clarify the situation. Other possible responses in this case may include following
points:
 Effective communication: The care organization is required to develop effective
communication processes to understand the needs of individuals suffering from major
illness. It will not only help in reducing dilemmas which may occur in the minds of patients
or their family members (Mechtcheriakov and et.al., 2007). In addition to this, the
organization may engage service users while planning a care routine for them. This not only
helps in building the trust of service users but is also effective in supporting them physically
and psychologically to cope with their fatal ailment.
 Providing person centric care services: In addition to communication, the organization may
also choose to respond effectively by providing personalized care plan to service users by
identifying their preferences and choices. This will improve the satisfaction level of service
users by understanding their care needs.
 Empowerment of care takers: The care organization can assure patients about positive
outcomes and encourage them to develop faith in organizational policies and practices
(Munn-Giddings and Winter, 2013). This will not only increase the moral of patients but
also build trust in the minds of their family members.
3.2 Reflective account
Significant life events are inevitable and affect in both positive as well as in negative
manner. For example a kid undergoing puberty is both curious as well as confused with bodily and
psychological changes (Munn-Giddings and Winter, 2013). This is when he starts to see things from
different perspectives. Similarly, when he grows into adult which is another important life event in
his life seek to develop matured understanding of the world. Then he gets job and starts building his
own social network. Finally, he settles into a family by getting married and having kids which are
considered as major life events in a person’s life. Eventually he gets old and suffers from various
chronic conditions and lives rest of his life in a care home under the care of health and social care
workers. Usually individuals go through the same life events. As a health and social care worker I
experienced many such cases in which individuals experience major life changes and I follow
organizational policies and practices to support such care takers (Neumann, 2013). I make sure to
access their physiological and psychological needs in order to develop effective care plan. In
addition to this, I also make sure to provide them emotional and informational support to help them
in dealing with stressful situations. I make sure to pacify them by having a heartfelt chat with
patients who been through tragic events in their lives. In addition to this I also make sure to provide

effective treatment which includes medication, physiotherapy and counselling to service users. I
also ensure to make cordial relationship with patients and fellow care workers to improve the
quality of support services. As a responsible healthcare worker I will always try to motivate patients
with serious ailments to make them look for positivity in different aspects of their life. Besides this,
I also make sure to develop skills and knowledge to support individuals who experience tragic life
events (ollard, Miers, Gilchrist and Sayers, 2006). I also act as counsellor and adviser to number of
care takers to provide them informational support. I pay heed to psychological reactions of patients
and provide support by listening to their opinions.
3.3 Recommendations for improving support in health and social care organizations
In order to improve the support in health and social setting for service users and social
networks who experience significant life events, following recommendations can be provided:
 Developing effective organizational policies: The health and social care organizations can
develop certain policies and practices that are focused to support individuals (Reich, Lesur
and Perdrizet-Chevallier, 2008). In addition to this, it is also important to implement policies
that are based on positive outcomes. This will significantly improve the quality of care
services for those service users who are struck by significant life events.
 Effective Role Modelling: The care organization can ameliorate support system for
individuals who experience major life events. It will help in boosting the moral, confidence,
trust and respect among affected care takers (Mancini, 2013). Effective role modelling play
important role in improving the efficacy of consultation and counselling.
 Individual and group therapies: Family and individual therapies can be very beneficial for
care organizations to treat patients who are victim of tragic life events. For example if a
person is suffering from acute depression then the care organization can treat his condition
by providing individual therapies (Milovanov and et.al., 2013). In addition to this the family
members of the patient can be counselled to educate them on his condition.
 Identifying loopholes: The care organizations are required to identify the loopholes in policy
compliance or implementation of strategies in order to improve the support in health and
social care services (Milner, Myers and O'Byrne, 2015).
CONCLUSION
In a nutshell it can be concluded that significant life events greatly impact individuals of all
age groups. Thus, it is very important for heath and social care settings to provide better support to
the individuals who experience major life events. In order to that it is very essential to formulate
effective policies and practices to support such individuals. The research found that social support
coupled with health care services plays a vital role in improving physical and mental well being of
service users who face significant life events.

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