Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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Spiritual:
Before his admission in hospital AB regularly attended mass at his
local church, and his wife reported that this was an important part of his life.
Attending church is a priority for him once he returns home.
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Environment:
AB's wife visits him daily and she assists with his grooming tasks.
She seems overwhelmed and is having difficulty coping with the situation. She
has indicated on several occasions that between coming to the hospital and look-
ing after things at home she feels extremely stressed. Previously AB had taken
care of the family finances and his wife is now having difficulties with paying
bills, etc. She is most reluctant to ask for assistance from her children and was
referred to the social worker. Because AB will be unable to return to work for
sometime, his wife is concerned about how this decrease in income will affect
the family finances. AB and his wife live in a bungalow house with stairs to the
basement in a small country town that is an approximate 2-h drive to a regional
town. Previously AB was responsible for all of the yard work including lawn-
mowing in the summer and snow-shoveling during the winter. His wife is pri-
marily responsible for most of the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs);
however, AB used to drive his wife for their grocery shopping excursions to the
nearest large town. His wife has always been reluctant to drive (especially dur-
ing winter months) and will only drive on familiar routes and not long distances.
AB's children have agreed to assist with driving while he is recovering; however,
they will not always be available because of their own commitments. His three
adult children live locally and are able to assist with chores and grocery shop-
ping on the weekends; however, they cannot assist during the week because of
their own work commitments. The grandchildren will visit regularly as they did
before the stroke. His wife has decided that she can no longer cope with looking
after the grandchildren during the week, and AB feels responsible for this.
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Occupation:
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Activities of Daily Living (ADLs):
AB is able to wash his face and upper body
sitting in a wheelchair in front of the sink with objects placed within reach
for him. He is able to brush his teeth (wife assists with putting the toothpaste
on the brush), comb his hair, and shave using an electrical shaver. The tasks
require extra time, but AB is able to accomplish them independently. AB can
use the urinal and commode and has no continence issues. He moves around
the unit propelling himself whilst sitting in a low-back wheelchair using his
left arm and leg to mobilize. AB has not engaged in any instrumental activities
of daily living while in the rehabilitation facility.
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Leisure:
Because of his current functional limitations AB is unable to par-
ticipate in the previously valued activities of playing golf and indoor soccer.
During rehabilitation the OT worked with AB to discover some new leisure
activities that he can successfully participate in. AB has expressed interest in
working toward continuing to participate in his prior leisure activities, but he
stated he is also open to trying more “sedentary” pursuits, such as reading and
top-based activities. He has yet to find an activity that he finds relaxing and
enjoyable that he can complete independently, and this is an important goal
for his recovery.
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Work/Productive Occupations:
At his current level of functioning AB will be
unable to return to work. His job and his role as provider for his wife are very
