What are Case Studies?
We will be using a Case Study as a teaching and learning aid on this course. Each week we will outline a scenario as it relates to each Unit. We will ask you to consider some questions for discussion and debate.
We will be looking at the life of Tony, a man living with dementia. The Tony Case Study is not a real case study. Any references to real people, names, characters, places, and incidents and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. The details described each week are for educational purposes only.
There are no right or wrong answers necessarily to questions posed in the case studies.This Week's Case Study
This week we would like you to introduce you to Tony.
Tony is a retired business man who lives in the midlands with his wife Maura. They are both in their 70’s and have been married for nearly 50 years. They have 1 son who lives abroad, and whose job takes him to remote parts of the world for many weeks at a time.
Tony was a shopkeeper (in a different larger town) for many years. They moved to this town 5 years ago and enjoy the gentle pace of living in a small community. They have neighbours and friends but generally like their privacy. Tony used to play golf less so now, used to travel less so now, and they both like to tend to the garden, though it has been neglected of late.
Approximately 7 years ago, Tony was having trouble with his memory and other symptoms and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Over the past years, Tony has needed more help in every way. He’s mobility is compromised, he needs help getting dressed and is sometimes incontinent. Tony sometimes gets lost on his way to and from the local shop. Sometimes Tony has difficulty saying what he wants to, and sometimes he doesn't seem to be listening. Tony gets help from the HSE in that a lady (Home Care) comes every morning for 30 minutes to help him get up etc. There is a lot of change of staff and Tony never knows who is coming. Tony goes to a dementia specific day center 3 days per week and he enjoys this as he spent most of his life working as a shopkeeper and meeting people daily.
Maura’s overall health is good, she likes driving and likes to cook and bake. Sometimes Maura gets anxious thinking about the future and what it will bring.
Consider the following:
1. Where do you think Tony is on his dementia journey?
2. What do you think of his daily routine? Would you consider it to be person-centred?
3. What changes, if any, would you consider if you were Maura?
To post your answers to these questions, Just click 'Reply' below to the right, type up your thoughts and click 'Submit'. Thank you.