Case Scenario #8: Working with Older Adults

You are a community support worker at a local senior centre in Edmonton. The senior centre offers a wide variety of programs and services including outreach services, advocacy, health and wellness activities, and programming including clubs and hobbies, education sessions, as well as a community meal program.

Scenario

Olga is an 82-year-old woman who was recently widowed. She and her husband Franz were once very active members at the senior centre. They used to attend activities such as card games, shuffleboard, a weekly morning walking group, and education sessions on topics such as wills and estates. Often, they would go to special social events featuring dinner and dancing.

Seven months ago, Franz was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given three months left to live. Given the situation, they stopped coming to the centre and consequently lost touch with the friends that they had there. Olga and Franz had three children: Thorstein, Marta, and Robert. All three adult children came to help and support their parents during this challenging time. Two months have passed since Franz’s death and it has been one month since their children went back home. Thorstein lives with his wife and children in Lethbridge, Alberta, which is about five hours away from Edmonton. Marta lives in Toronto with her partner and two kids. They stay in touch with Olga through Skype on a weekly basis. Robert lives on his own in Edmonton, however, his job takes him away both frequently and for long periods of time, as he travels both nationally and internationally. Her son Thorstein will be coming up to Edmonton to visit her for an extended weekend later in the month.

Now that her children have left for the time-being, the reality of life without her husband of nearly 60 years is overwhelming her. She is feeling lonely and isolated. They did almost everything together. Olga reports that she has been having trouble sleeping, loses her appetite, and at times struggles with loneliness and overwhelming waves of sadness. In talking with her daughter, Marta suggested that she return to the senior centre to reconnect with some acquaintances and friends as well as explore programs and services that might help her deal with the loss of her husband. Olga confesses that while she has thought of re-joining the walking group and the card games, she feels a little awkward and unsure of herself given she had always done those activities with Franz. Since he is no longer with her, she fears that it will be hard, at least initially, to re-join those groups. If she could have help in taking that first step in getting back into the activities, she believes that she will be okay.

Scenario 2 — Optional

Use the same scenario above, except this time, Olga only has one adult child. It has now been over a year since Franz passed away. Her son Robert lives about one hour outside of Edmonton. He has since changed jobs and he is no longer required to travel for his work. He phones her once a month and seldom visits her. He maybe visits her once every 2–3 months. When Olga shares that with you, you notice that you feel triggered by her situation. You feel angry, frustrated, and confused, as it is hard to understand why her son isn’t more involved with his mother. You think to yourself, “Families are always supposed to be there for one another and care about each other. Why doesn’t he visit her more often?”

• What do you do? How do you continue to listen to Olga without showing judgment and while maintaining non-judgment?
• What do you think would happen if you shared your anger and frustration with Olga?
• How do you think she would feel?
• Do you think she would continue to share her story with you?

Case scenario by Nadine Konyk.