Part 1: Ms. M. at 61 Years of Age
Chapter 23 Unfolding Case Study
Ms. M. is 61 years old and works as the secretary in the Senior Circle of Care program where you
conduct health screening and educational programs. This senior wellness program is sponsored by one
of the nonprofit hospitals in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ms. M.'s responsibilities include finding and
organizing health education materials under the direction of the nurses. You often go to lunch with her
and discuss social and health-related topics. Ms. M. has always been inquisitive about health-related
concerns, and one day she asks your advice about osteoporosis. She says that both she and her mother,
who is 83 years old, have been receiving flyers about getting a bone density test and that her mother
asked if she would go with her so that they could both be tested. You know from past conversations that
Ms. M.'s mother fractured her wrist when she was in her 60s, but otherwise is relatively healthy. Ms. M.
is fairly healthy, although she admits that she "could stand to lose a little weight and get more exercise."
You also know from previous discussions that Ms. M. had been using hormonal replacement therapy for
several years but discontinued this last year. In your work as a wellness nurse, you have developed and
presented several health education programs about osteoporosis so you are familiar with recent
literature on osteoporosis.
