Supporting Significant Life Events: A Psychological Analysis

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Supporting significant life events
[Type the document subtitle]

Contents
ESSAY 1..................................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................1
LO 1.......................................................................................................................................................1
1.1......................................................................................................................................................1
1.2......................................................................................................................................................2
1.3......................................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................3
ESSAY 2..................................................................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................4
LO 2.......................................................................................................................................................4
2.1......................................................................................................................................................4
2.2......................................................................................................................................................5
2.3......................................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................7
REPORT..................................................................................................................................................8
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................8
LO 3.......................................................................................................................................................8
3.1......................................................................................................................................................8
3.2......................................................................................................................................................9
3.3......................................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................12
1

ESSAY 1
INTRODUCTION
Significant life events are referred to as the important events in a person’s life that
has great impact on their physical, emotional, social wellbeing. Human life is
uncertain and cannot be predicted as it includes various events and consequences
of actions taken by own self. Some of the events such as loss of a family member,
death, birth, marriage, divorce, disease, etc. plays important role in impacting the
wellbeing of an individual. This assignment deals with the explanation of the
significant life events in individual’s life and how to support an individual during his
phase. This essay concerns regarding the impact of these life events on the social
networks of the individual.
LO 1
1.1
Dementia is a leading cause of mental disability in world. It comprises of the
symptoms of forgetfulness and reduced cognitive functioning (Slade., 2010).
Dementia is mostly associated with some diseases as Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a
kind of mental illness that long term condition as well as has no cure till date.
Management and interventions to improve the condition are viable but complete cure
is yet not known. Dementia is a neurological condition that affects the brain and
through functioning of the individual. According to the Alzheimer’s society UK
dementia and Alzheimer’s go hand in hand and has impact on the overall quality of
life of an individual. It is stated that living with dementia affects individual’s feelings,
emotions, thoughts and responses (Cleland et al., 2016). Physically a person
experiences reduced cognition and sensual functioning that leads to impairment o
daily activities and functions. People with dementia experiences reduced self-
confidence and esteem. Due to their inability to remember and perform the tasks as
normal individual they start feeling depressed and lacks self-esteem. The emotional
quotient of the individual reduces to great level and is affected due to these
impairments and social stigma. The social implication of this disease is also well
studied as it is seen that people suffering from dementia are mostly isolated from the
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society and families. They are discriminated with and become subject of rejection
(Mann ET AL., 2014).
In given case study it is seen how Jacqui was discriminated and accused of taking
drugs by her boss when she could not manage to collaborate her thoughts and work
efficiently at the workplace setting due to her disease. It is seen how the disease not
only hampered her physical abilities to perform daily routine tasks and think in wise
manner but it also had great impact on the care she provided to her teenage kid and
the quality of life she was leading. This disease had severe impact on her cognition
and functioning as well as caused her to leave her job and shift to her parents to
seek asylum and support.
1.2
Society is made up of different kinds of people with different perception and
judgmental attitude. People in society judge others on basis of their race, religion,
caste, behavior and presentation. It is seen that the group in society responds
differently to different events in an individual’s life. Bereavement being one of the
crucial events in any human life is responded in diverse sense and manner by the
individuals in thee society (Mann et al., 2014). Family, friends, health care service
provider and loved ones all behave and respond to bereavement in different manner.
Family individuals are majorly responsible for providing moral support to one another
during loss. It is also associated with good communication and terms among the
members. The individual who do not receive support and moral help from the loved
ones is likely to face the challenges with the bereavement phase. As in given case
study Jacqui was not able to receive any support during her disease phase s she
shifted to her parents place to achieve these moral help and assistance with her
phase of life.
Friends and colleagues at times respond in a positive manner but other times may
have a negative approach towards the bereaved individual. It is a custom in almost
all the culture that the death or loss of an individual has to be presented with
condolences to provide them some amount of moral support and emotional relief
(Shahane et al., 2018). Society at times behaves in weird manner where severely
bereaved individuals can be stigmatized and discriminated as well as rejected. Such
3

group responses not only impact on the situation but it has severe impact on
enhancing the challenges for bereaved individual.
1.3
Other individual that are involved in the process of caring for the patients of
bereavement in health and social care setting are the nurses, doctors, counselors
and coworkers (Proctor, Maltby, & Linley., 2011). These individuals are affected
directly or indirectly when the patient experiences bereavement or significant life
event. Nurses in such setting usually are well acquainted with the scenario and the
future scope and life expectancy of thee dyeing patient at times yet takes up the
responsibility to care and tries to achieve therapeutic relationship with them and the
family as part of their work. Loss of the patient affects them to severe level and also
hampers their service efficiency. It is seen that usually caring for a dying patient has
impact on the emotional and psychological aspects of the health and social care
individual. Loss of the patient makes them feel guilty and devastated for not able to
help their patient effectively and may also lead them to bereavement. According to
Johansson and Lindahl (2012) nurses are seen to get affected due to moving
between life and death while caring for terminally ill patients. Health care staff usually
suffers such feelings while working in such setting that impacts their emotional status
to a great level (Lundberg et al., 2013).
CONCLUSION
It is well indicated how the social networks of an individual is affected and not only by
their emotional and psychological aspects of life but including the social aspects
where they can experience rejection and isolation. Dementia, bereavement and
other such diseases and life events makes the person depressed and weak that thy
usually cannot cope with the challenges of life. This assignment successfully
described how the bereavement or dementia as seen in given case study impacts
the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of an individual.
4

ESSAY 2
INTRODUCTION
Supporting the individuals experiencing significant life events is one of the aspects of
effective health and social care services. There are various services and
programmes that are working effectively in different countries to support individual
with significant life experiences such as bereavement and dementia. This
assignment deals with explanation of the effectiveness of the organizational policies
and procedures that are currently working in order to provide support to the
individual experiencing significant life events. It will also define how social networks
help in providing support and suitability of external sources.
LO 2
2.1
Policies and procedures are usually framed and followed in the organizational setting
to provide effective services and outcomes for the service user. It is essential that
while working with a particular patient of bereavement or dementia that cause
significant changes and impact on human life some basic policies and procedures
are to be kept in mind. Bereavement is the phase of human life that enables one to
have great difficulty coping u and experience immense feelings of sadness and
disorientation in life. This phase requires one to be protected and safeguarded from
the ailments of society and thee harm other elements can cause them due to their
vulnerability (Leary and Baumeister., 2017). Policies that are usually followed at
organization level for bereaved individual includes the services and procedures for
help and support to them. The programmes run by the organizational staff to counsel
and provide support to the family members of the dying patient is important as it
focuses on anticipated grief and also prepares one for the loss. As in Gemma’s case
her mother was to die and she knew she needed support to let in terms with this
phase while she contacted the services they denied saying that the services can be
provided after death or loss. This approach is not correct as new policies focuses on
patient and family centered care that comprises of dealing with the patient and their
families during each level of care (Lin, Dean, & Ensel., 2013). It includes counseling
5

and support to the families during the palliative care of the individual to prevent
severe effects of loss and grief during bereavement.
Evaluating my own experiences I have seen that my workplace services are framed
according to the policies adequate to deal with the bereaved individual. I also noticed
that following legislation such as the Mental Capacity Act and the Equality Act makes
the services more competent and equal for all the individual and safeguards the from
any perceived harm.
2.2
Social network is referred to as the group or people that are part of social
surroundings and life of an individual. This network includes family, friends, society,
teacher, school, colleagues, support servants, service providers, government etc.
These groups of different people with different impact on an individual’s life can be
helpful in providing support and moral help during the phases of bereavement or
diseases like dementia. Family friends and spot service workers are the main
elements that can provide support during bereavement. It is seen that the support
from families during bereavement is an essential step in providing adequate care
during the phase of life of an individual. According to Breen and O'connor (2011), the
loss of an individual pose great impact on their family and friends but the
bereavement process is calmed by the support the family members present to each
other. Hence the study provided crude evidence that the support from family
members during bereavement is crucial and provides positive impact and therefore
the family centred bereavement programmes are run. Other than these people thee
society can play a role in supporting bereaved individual. People can helps others
financially, physically, morally or emotionally. People can help the care centres by
funding them to provide care to this group of individual, society can also help one by
volunteering in the programmes and helping and supporting bereaved individuals
(Leary and Baumeister., 2017). Communication is the path to success in such care
and the social networks should be well aware of the issue and what measures can
be used including talk therapy to help the bereaved individual. As Gemma requires
talking to someone and the Cruse services provided her the counsellor Helen that
she can achieve help from, also the social support and acceptance for Gemma is
important to recover from the loss she faced.
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2.3
Depression is the greatest outcome of bereavement or any significant life events.
The mental implication of these events is much more than other implications that
presents issues and risk of development of mental health issues for the individual
(Charles & Carstensen., 2010). While a patient is suffering from diseases like
dementia or long term condition like cancer that changes their life they are likely to
develop depression (Kendler et al., 2010). To overcome from such mental
obligations of the diseases one cannot only have support from family and peer but
needs external support and care from expertise individuals. As in given case Gemma
is suffering from bereavement due to her mother’s death and she perceives help
from the Cruse bereavement services. This organization and many more
organizations like this works for the upbringing and recovery of the bereaved
individuals during significant phase of their life. So health and social care
organizations can be the first external source of care. Second may be nurses that
are the main pillars of the health and social care to provide the adequate care and
support to the individual. Meeting with people, communicating, providing talk therapy
and counseling through experience professionals are the external help and support
that one can achieve.
7

CONCLUSION
Social network are the people around us that are present in good as well as bad
times of our life. Health and social care professionals play an important role in the
process of recovering from significant life events and are proved to be an important
external support one can achieve during bereavement.
8

REPORT
INTRODUCTION
Evaluating self-practices from the theoretical aspects of care is an essential
framework followed by a competent health and social care practitioner. In this part of
the essay the possible organizational responses towards the need of individual and
support to the one experience significant lie events will be discussed, personal
contribution to support of such individual will be focused on and recommendation for
better practice will be made.
LO 3
3.1
Various organizations throughout their course develop a perspective towards the
individual suffering from bereavement or impact of significant life events. The
responses of these organizations depend on the way they develop their perspective
towards this group of individual. Firstly the government organizations and agencies
that provide care for bereaved individual are the one that shows response towards
this issue by providing help, support, counseling and treatment. There are various
government agencies and organizations working in the UK to promote health care
and services to the individuals undergoing significant life events such as
bereavement (Ghesquiere et al., 2014). As one of the organization Cruse
bereavement care is enumerated in the case provided this organization deals with
promoting high quality bereavement care and support to the individuals suffering
from loss and post trauma of loss. Some of the strategies like the Carers strategy
and the bereavement support services in UK are working to ensure how the care is
provided to the people suffering from bereavement and loss of their loved ones
(Care., 2014). Organizations such as NHS, Marie Curie organization etc. in the UK
are responsible for promoting high quality response to the individual suffering from
bereavement and other such significant life events that impact their wellbeing.
The responses of agencies include quick response to their queries and assessment
of their status as well as planning of a person centered care and providing good
treatment options for them. The needs of the individual are assessed and addressed
9

through this care. Another response is from the care givers organization which
provides the treatment and support for the issue.
3.2
Working in the field of health and social care we need to develop diverse skills to
deal with different cases including the abilities to promote and provide support to the
individuals suffering from the significant life events and its impact in their life. As a
health care professional I can state that my personal contribution in this particular
aspect has been demarcated while I provide support and emotional help to the
families of palliative care patient (Parkes., & Prigerson., 2013). I am capable to
provide care and support to individual experiencing significant life events and still am
learning and developing my practice with growing knowledge and health and social
care trends. During my practice till now I have learnt that communication is crucial
element of effective care for the health and social care of individual undergoing
bereavement of experiencing significant life events. I learnt that communication
using proper language and words of empathy is not only essential but use of the
appropriate nonverbal body language and response is also important. Understanding
the situation of the patient and providing support both physically and emotionally is
important (Hall et al., 2013). I can assure that my command over my language and
communication strategies I use are responsive and good as per the demand of care.
I can connect with the families and patient in an appropriate manner as per the
therapeutic relationship of care. I am also good at identifying and assessing needs of
the individual as per their situation and suitably address them according to the
patient centeredness followed in my practice. I feel in case of a person suffering from
dementia I can provide her appropriate care by communicating effectively, using aids
that will help her to remember her routine and small directions and numbers, using
proper empathy and fostering their dignity to provide good outcomes (Sirgy., 2012).
Also in case of patient who is suffering from bereavement and going through grieving
cycle in his life I can manage to use counseling and psychologically helpful
strategies to help him cope with life.
3.3
The support available for the health and care of the individual experiencing
significant life events in the UK are from different sources and procedures. This
support can be improved and enhanced as per the more specifically designed
10

strategies for bereavement control and such individual support that are suffering
from significant life events (Parkes, & Prigerson., 2013). Firstly the organizational
support for such services both in government and private sector should be
encouraged and supported to promote better health and care to such individuals.
Specific and precisely targeted standards and policies for these health issues should
be developed by the government to ensure better practices as per the set standards
of care (Nelson and Staggers., 2016). Family and social network support should be
involved in the care planning of the individuals undergoing such significant events in
their life as it proves to have positive effects on their health. Employees working for
such health sectors should be provided with adequate specialized training on how to
deal and handle patients undergoing such phase in life. Developmental programmes
and training sessions for these professionals if made mandatory can enhance the
quality of care. Family centered approach should be adopted where the involvement
of family in the planning of care and decision making for the patient is done to ensure
better outcomes.
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