Impact of Significant Life Events on Health and Social Care: A Report

This report delves into the impact of significant life events on individuals within health and social care, exploring the experiences of individuals like Rita and Sandra. It examines the influence of these events, both positive and negative, on individuals' lives and the importance of various support systems. The report analyzes the effectiveness of organizational policies and procedures, the role of social networks, and the suitability of external resources in providing assistance. It discusses the impact of such events on healthcare professionals and the importance of person-centered approaches, such as grief counseling. Furthermore, the report offers insights into possible organizational responses, personal contributions, and recommendations for improving support to individuals facing significant life changes, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and compassionate care.

Supporting Significant Life Events in
Health and Social Care

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1.1 Impact of significant life events on people.......................................................................1
1.2 Group responses to these significant life events...............................................................2
1.3 Impact for others in health and social care.......................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Effectiveness of organisational policies and procedures..................................................3
2.2 Role of others in social networks providing support........................................................3
2.3 Suitability of external sources of support.........................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
3.1 Possible organisational responses for supporting individuals..........................................4
3.2 Reflection on own contributions for supporting people with significant life events.......5
3.3 Recommendations for improving support to people dealing with significant life events 5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Life events can be considered as some changes that happen in the basic routine of the
individuals. These events can also be classified as quite sudden but a fact which is to be ensured
here is that these significant life events can be positive as well as negative (Harley and et.al,
2010). Positive changes throw an efficient impact on the person whereas a negative one can
make the person emotionally weak. The report is about understanding the influence of these life
events on the individuals, their surroundings. Also, it includes various means of support that can
be provided to the people undergoing some changes in life. Along with this, it also includes the
response of various authorities and organisations in order to provide some support to the people
experiencing significant life events.
1.1 Impact of significant life events on people
Different changes happen in life and every change has some different impact as well (Hurlbut,
Robbins and Hoke, 2011). So does it is clear enough in the case of Rita. She also had been
through some events in her life and these are discussed as under:
 Instead of having her own house, she has been living in a sheltered house from seven
years. The reason she preferred in staying in a sheltered home was that she was going old.
Also, she must not be able to manage herself with all the ailments she had because she
was old enough. So, she thought of shifting in a sheltered home. This was a life changing
event for Rita because if she had been living in her own house alone, she must have been
depressed enough. Also, it would have impacted her mental health as well. Now that she
was engaged in some activities with the other residents, she was not alone, so it helped
her in dealing with loneliness as well. It has been observed that she was active enough in
participating in various activities such as taking walks, gardening etc.
 She has been diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago but she refused to do any
medical treatments and medications. Diagnosing with cancer can be considered as the
second significant life event she had gone through. It is obvious enough that it had
impacted much on her physical as well as mental life. Dealing with cancer is not easy as
it decreases the level of energy as well as of understanding to a huge extent. Also, there
are various side effects as well as it minimizes the power of understanding of the person
(Luhmann and et al., 2012). So, the same must be going with Rita as well. Also, she
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refused to go for the treatment because she knew she is old enough and also might not
afford for the whole procedure of the treatment. So, she refused and the authorities also
accepted. The disease must have impacted her life widely because it influenced her
mental as well as physical health to a huge extent. The fact Rita was not staying at home
was that she was suffering from a few ailments, so she did not choose to live alone but
with other residents of the sheltered housing project. Social effects here can be
considered that she was living in a sheltered home with a number of residents and often,
they used to play games and participate actively. But when she has breast cancer, she
knew that she is not able to afford the money, so she refused to have any medical
treatment and that can be considered as a behavioural aspect.
1.2 Group responses to these significant life events
Help and care are classified as that elements that can actually provide some sort of support to the
one experiencing significant life events. So, in this case, it was obvious enough that she was not
living in her home rather she was living in a sheltered home. So she might not afford the finances
required for the treatment. In such cases, some members whether family or friends can act as the
supporting elements (Bellizzi and et.al, 2010). In case of Rita, she was living in a sheltered
home, so there she was living with other residents. Also, she used to involve and participator in
various activities such as gardening, walking etc. She had friends there. So, this involvement
might have resulted positive as she was engaged in activities. She was not alone because if she
had been, it would have surely impacted her mental health. Although the medical professionals
accepted the fact that she did not want to go for any treatment as she was suffering from breast
cancer. On an overall basis, it can be considered that in such case, friends can provide much
support to the person because she was not living with her family. So, the other residents who
were her friends as well would have acted supportive so that she may get complete emotional
support because in such situations, care from the friends and guardians can act much supportive
to deal with such life events (Erdogan and Mansfield, 2012). A well known example of social
support was that she was living in a sheltered home because she was not able to live alone with
ailments. So, the sheltered home provided her social support. There are various professional and
support systems that can provide an efficient range of help to the people dealing with issues and
complexities.
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1.3 Impact for others in health and social care
Every other person involved in the case of any significant life event are affected, no matter what
even in positive or in negative way. But it does. There have been observed various cases, where
the processes are being hampered to an extent. A very well known example of this can be
considered as that if some patient dies even after receiving every possible care and support, in
that case, the practitioners and other associated members feels that their hard work and services
meant completely lost and were of no use because they were not able to save someone’s life.
Although in case of Rita, she refused to take any further medication, but if she would have taken
there might be the possibility that she might have saved. There were also a reason behind her that
she refused to go for any treatment because and it might be that she was living in a sheltered
house and had no financial access. So, such factors have some influence on the others in the
health and social care (Harley and et.al., 2010). Some well known standards of bereavement
care includes the fact that the practitioners helps in facilitating the services required. Also, they
act as one of the beneficial benchmark that can provide help to the people suffering from.
TASK 2
2.1 Effectiveness of organisational policies and procedures
There is a significant role of the policies and procedures that are being provided by the
government and different organisations in order to deal with various situations of life, which are
also considered as significant life events of life. Person centred approach means when the
practitioner tends to focus on the patient in an efficient way so that they can be able to get an
appropriate rate of care and support. As in case of Sandra as well, although the death of her
husband was a significant life event for her that she couldn’t change but with the help of a
counsellor, she became capable enough of dealing with the situation very positively and it helped
in coping with all the memories and other factors. So, it can be considered that there is a huge
effectiveness of these procedures and policies. There are various such bodies that provide help
and support to the people dealing with significant changes in life events. With the help of a grief
counselling, various changes have been observed in Sandra as it was observable enough that she
has started accepting the change and because of the emotional support she get from Rebecca, her
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counsellor, it was all meant so that she can move forward in her life and it actually helped her to
do so. After her meetings with the grief counsellor, she has started accepting the change as her
sleeping pattern has calmed down without the presence of her husband as well. Also, she became
used to sleep alone which was a much difficult task for her at the time of death of her husband.
So, it can be considered that counsellor and other such bodies are capable enough to provide an
efficient and appropriate amount of support to the person so that they can become capable
enough to deal with such situations (Hurlbut, Robbins and Hoke, 2011).
2.2 Role of others in social networks providing support
Instead of family members, friends or other bodies that are associated with the health and social
care, there are other various people in the social network that can help in providing some support
to the one that is dealing with some changes in their life events (Hurlbut, Robbins and Hoke,
2011). Care specialists are considered as the people that are specialised in the field of providing
an efficient rate of care to the patient. They make involvement of the support therapies in order
to provide an efficient and appropriate amount of care. Whether it can be financial, physical or
mental, people in social networks can provide even any one of these so that it can act as some
helpful for the one dealing with the situation. As in case of Sandra, there was a possibility that
she might get support from her family members. Although her family members and her
husband’s family members were trying their best to help her but at the end, she was left along
with her kids who were infants and were not able to understand what has happened. Although the
support from her and her husband’s family members didn’t worked but here, they can be
considered as the example that the people can provide support in various possible ways. People
in social network if are not capable of providing support themselves, then they can even
coordinate and make are those organisations that are always ready to help anyone who is having
a hard time and needs some sort of support . So these can be considered as some ways by which
people in the social network can provide some sort of support to the person in need (Schroevers
and Ranchor, 2010).
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2.3 Suitability of external sources of support
External sources can prove very helpful in providing support to the ones that is dealing from
some change in their life or some event of their life. It can be further analysed from various
means which are discussed as under:
Give and take treatment
There are various types of treatments which can involve acupuncture, homeopathy etc. it has
been observed in various situations that patients sometimes trust completely blindly on the
practitioners and treatments that are being provided to them but it can become terrible as well. It
cannot be analysed in every case, but in a few. Otherwise, such treatments act efficient enough as
well that helps in providing a complete sort of relief to the one suffering.
Meditation
Meditation can also play a very efficient role as it actually help in calming down the senses. Like
in case of Sandra, she could have given some meditation as well and that could have actually
helped her to a huge extent (D’Zurilla and Nezu, 2010). As it was difficult for her to cope with
the situation easily as she had lost her husband but after taking sessions with a grief counsellor,
Rebecca, it helped her a lot and she started coping with the situation and accepting the change
because she got emotional support from Rebecca and also, she knew Rebecca will not judge her
on any basis. So she shared everything with her and got complete emotional support from her.
This in turn helped Sandra in accepting the change and moving forward. Yes, internet support
groups can act as alternatives and can prove beneficial as well in such scenarios.
TASK 3
3.1 Possible organisational responses for supporting individuals.
Every organization has some different set of response ho is undergoing some significant
live events. It can involve the support from governmental bodies, other support service
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organisations etc. there are various governmental bodies that provide support to the people that
are having a hard time and are going through some changes in their life or events of life. Some
organisation provides financial support as they provide the money to the family of the one
suffering so that they can be able to continue the treatment procedure. while some focus on
providing financial help, some focuses on providing sessions in which they give various
medication therapies to the one in need (Hurlbut, Robbins and Hoke, 2011). All this is to be done
in order to provide some sort of support to the one who is dealing with some changes in the life
events.
3.2 Reflection on own contributions for supporting people with significant life events
I think I still have to develop my contribution more in the contribution that I have provided to the
people that are facing some significant changes in their life events. Although it was a very nice
experience as it helped me in learning various factors that will help me in a longer run. I realised
my communication skills were efficient enough because I was able to interact with such people
very easily and trying to know their life better. I interacted with variety of such people and I
really enjoyed that they shared their various incidents with me. In a very short duration, a layer
of trust has been developed. I also researcher for various medication therapies that can help one
in dealing with situations like someone nears death etc. because it is quite hard to cope with
situations like this. Also, I learned one very important thing that showing empathy is not only
solution but doing something for them actually makes one happy.
3.3 Recommendations for improving support to people dealing with significant life events
In a health and social care, there are various ways that can be involved in order to make the
services and processes efficient enough so that it can provide a better quality and standard
services to the people that are dealing with some changes in life events. A very well-known
example of this can be considered as the fact that if some services are made available free of
cost, then it can actually help the people who cannot afford it. It is important because there are a
variety of people who are not able to afford the finance of the treatment and sometimes, it further
results in the death of the person. So, it can be considered as a better and efficient option that can
actually improve the type of support that is being provided to the people dealing with such
situations. Also, the employees of the health and social care can be given efficient amount of
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training so that they can properly get to know the ways by which they can involve and interact
with patients and also stay capable enough of providing the treatment in a more efficient and
appropriate manner. Some sessions such as medication therapies etc., Should be available so that
the people dealing with mental stress can make use of them as it will help in giving them some
sort of relief and peace. Advance directives are considered as the measures that the practitioners
or the patient can ensure in the beginning only so that if one factor cannot prove useful, then the
other can be chosen so that the issue can be resolved as soon as possible.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the report that there comes various situations in life when the
person feels less motivated and encouraged, but there are various ways and techniques that can
be used in order to provide some sort of support to the people dealing with some changes in the
life events. There are various organisational policies that provide various means of support. Also,
enormous people apart from family and friends can act helpful in providing help and support to
people undergoing significant changes in the life events.
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References
Books and Journals
Bellizzi, K.M. and et.al., 2010. Posttraumatic growth and health-related quality of life in a
racially diverse cohort of breast cancer survivors. Journal of Health Psychology. 15(4).
pp.615-626.
Hurlbut, J. M., Robbins, L. K. and Hoke, M. M., 2011. Correlations between spirituality and
health-promoting behaviors among sheltered homeless women. Journal of Community
Health Nursing. 28(2). pp.81-91.
Luhmann, M. and et.al., 2012. Subjective well-being and adaptation to life events: a meta-
analysis. Journal of personality and social psychology. 102(3). p.592.
Schroevers, M. J. and Ranchor, A. V., 2010. Type of social support matters for prediction of
posttraumatic growth among cancer survivors. Psycho‐Oncology. 19(1). pp.46-53.
D’Zurilla, T.J. and Nezu, A.M., 2010. Problem-solving therapy. Handbook of cognitive-
behavioral therapies, 3, pp.197-225.
Erdogan, B. and Mansfield, L.R., 2012. Whistle while you work: A review of the life satisfaction
literature. Journal of Management, 38(4), pp.1038-1083.
Harley, D. and et.al., 2010, November. Making the Wii at home: game play by older people in
sheltered housing. In Symposium of the Austrian HCI and Usability Engineering
Group (pp. 156-176). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
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