An adult has cared for a debilitated parent for 10 years. The parent's condition has recently declined, and the health care provider has recommended placement in a skilled care facility. The adult says, "I've always been able to care for my parents

Question

Nursing home placement goes against everything I believe." Successful resolution of this person's crisis will most closely relate to:

a. resolving the feelings associated with the threat to the person's self-concept
b. maintaining the ability to identify situational supports in the community
c. relying on the assistance from role models within the person's culture
d. mobilizing automatic relief behaviors by the person

Answer 1

ANS: A
The patient's crisis clearly relates to a loss of (or threatened change in) self-concept. Her capacity to care for her parents, regardless of the deteriorating condition, has been challenged. Crisis resolution involves coming to terms with the feelings associated with this loss. Identifying situational supports is relevant but less so than coming to terms with the threat to self-concept. Reliance on lessons from role models can be helpful but is not the primary factor associated with resolution in this case. Automatic relief behaviors are not helpful and are part of the fourth phase of crisis.