Health Promotion: Prevention of DiseaseCase
CASE STUDY: An Older Immigrant Couple: Mr. and Mrs. Arahan
Mr. and Mrs. Arahan, an older couple in their seventies, have been living with their oldest daughter,
her husband of 15 years, and their two children, ages 12 and 14. They all live in a middle-income
neighborhood in a suburb of a metropolitan city. Mr. and Mrs. Arahan are both college educated and
worked full-time while they were in their native country. In addition, Mr. Arahan, the only offspring
of wealthy parents, inherited a substantial amount of money and real estate. Their daughter came to
the United States as a registered nurse and met her husband, a drug company representative. The
older couple moved to the United States when their daughter became a U.S. citizen and petitioned
them as immigrants. Since the couple was facing retirement, they welcomed the opportunity to come
to the United States.
The Arahans found life in the United States different from that in their home country, but their
adjustment was not as difficult because both were healthy and spoke English fluently. Most of their
time was spent taking care of their two grandchildren and the house. As the grandchildren grew older,
the older couple found that they had more spare time. The daughter and her husband advanced in
their careers and spent a great deal more time at their jobs. There were few family dinners during
the week. On weekends, the daughter, her husband, and their children socialized with their own
friends. The couple began to feel isolated and longed for a more active life.
Mr. and Mrs. Arahan began to think that perhaps they should return to the home country, where
they still had relatives and friends. However, political and economic issues would have made it
difficult for them to live there. Besides, they had become accustomed to the way of life in the United
States with all the modern conveniences and abundance of goods that were difficult to obtain in their
country. However, they also became concerned that they might not be able to tolerate the winter
months and that minor health problems might worsen as they aged. They wondered who would take
care of them if they became very frail and where they would live, knowing that their daughter had
only saved money for their grandchildren’s college education. They expressed their sentiments to
their daughter, who became very concerned about how her parents were feeling.
This older couple had been attending church on a regular basis, but had never been active in other
church-related activities. The church bulletin announced the establishment of parish nursing with
two retired registered nurses as volunteers. The couple attended the first opening of the parish clinic.
Here, they met one of the registered nurses, who had a short discussion with them about the services
offered. The registered nurse had spent a great deal of her working years as a community health
nurse. She informed Mr. and Mrs. Arahan of her availability to help them resolve any health-related
issues.
Reflective Questions
1. What strategies could be suggested for this older adult couple to enhance their quality of life?
2. What community resources can they utilize?
3. What can the daughter and her family do to address the feelings of isolation of the older couple?
4. What health promotion activities can ensure a healthy lifestyle for them?
Sample Solution
- Get involved in their community: This could involve volunteering at their church, joining a senior center, or taking classes at a local community college. Getting involved in their community can help them to meet new people, stay active, and feel a sense of purpose.
- Stay physically active: Exercise is important for people of all ages, but it is especially important for older adults. Regular physical activity can help to improve physical fitness, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and improve mood.
Full Answer Section
- Eat a healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet is another important way to improve quality of life. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It is also important to limit processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats.
- Get enough sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential for good health and well-being. Most adults need around 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
- Manage stress: Stress can take a toll on physical and mental health. There are many ways to manage stress, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, and spending time with loved ones.
- Stay connected with family and friends: Social connections are important for everyone, but they are especially important for older adults. Staying connected with family and friends can help to reduce loneliness and isolation.
Here are some community resources that Mr. and Mrs. Arahan could utilize:
- Senior centers: Senior centers offer a variety of programs and services for older adults, such as social activities, health screenings, and transportation assistance.
- Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels delivers meals to homebound older adults. This can be a great way to ensure that older adults are getting the nutrition they need.
- Transportation assistance: There are a number of organizations that provide transportation assistance to older adults. This can help older adults to get to medical appointments, grocery stores, and other essential services.
- In-home care: In-home care can provide assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and cooking. This can be a great way for older adults to remain independent in their own homes.
- Adult day care: Adult day care provides a safe and supportive environment for older adults during the day. This can be a great way for older adults to socialize and participate in activities while their caregivers are at work.
The daughter and her family can do a number of things to address the feelings of isolation of the older couple:
- Make time for regular family dinners: This is a great way for the whole family to connect and catch up.
- Encourage the couple to get involved in activities that they enjoy: This could involve volunteering, taking classes, or joining a club.
- Help them to stay connected with friends and family: This could involve setting up regular phone calls or visits.
- Be patient and understanding: It is important to remember that adjusting to a new country can be difficult. The daughter and her family should be patient and understanding with the couple as they adjust to their new life.
Here are some health promotion activities that can ensure a healthy lifestyle for Mr. and Mrs. Arahan:
- Get regular checkups: This is important for early detection and treatment of health problems.
- Take medications as prescribed: It is important to take medications as prescribed by the doctor.
- Get vaccinated: Vaccinations can help to protect against serious diseases.
- Eat a healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet is essential for good health.
- Get enough exercise: Regular physical activity can help to improve physical fitness and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
- Manage stress: Stress can take a toll on physical and mental health. There are many ways to manage stress, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, and spending time with loved ones.
- Stay connected with family and friends: Social connections are important for everyone, but they are especially important for older adults. Staying connected with family and friends can help to reduce loneliness and isolation.
I hope these suggestions are helpful. It is important to note that everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another. It is important to find what works best for Mr. and Mrs. Arahan and to make sure that they are getting the support they need.