Palliative Care
You have been visiting Mrs. Huber for some time now. She has recently experienced the death of her husband after 45 years of marriage. A generally bright and capable woman, she has seemed to cope well in the three months since his death. She has been busy sorting clothes and distributing them to relatives and learning how to pay the bills and run the household.
Today, as you visit Mrs. Huber, she seems not to be like her usual self. You work along with her (as has been her style all along) when a fuse blows. Mrs. Huber breaks down in tears, saying, "How am I going to cope with all of this? I feel so helpless and lonely sometimes." She quickly recovers, however, and apologizes saying, "I really thought I'd gotten through most of this."
a. Identify the needs which are reflected in her behaviours and statements.
b. What stage of grieving is Mrs. Huber expressing? Explain.
c. Explain how the PSW could facilitate communication and assist her to understand herself and work through her grieving process.