When Emelia arrived, how was Mr. Snyder behaving? Why was he so agitated? What did Emelia know about his health, functioning, and state of mind? What did Emelia know about his strengths?

Question

Emelia coordinated a Meals on Wheels Program for the elderly, and supervised 10 volunteers who delivered the meals. One day, when Emelia filled in for a volunteer and delivered a meal to the Snyders, she found Mr. Snyder very agitated and worried because Mrs. Snyder was missing. Apparently she had wandered off before. Because it was cold outside and they lived two blocks from a busy street, Emelia was alarmed and struggled with how to respond to this unexpected situation. As she tried to prioritize her responsibilities, she began to wonder if her volunteers were communicating with her and if they were well-trained for their responsibilities.

Answer 1

When Emelia arrived, Mr. Snyder was very agitated. He kept saying the same thing over and over and did not seem to be able to take any action. Emelia knew a few facts about his health. She noted in her initial assessment that Jim Snyder was thin. He was 78 years old. Emelia picked up a diabetic meal for Mr. Snyder, so she knew he was diabetic. It would have been important for Emelia to ask if he had kept to his regular routine of insulin and diet during the crisis. Otherwise Emelia may have had a medical crisis to deal with on top of everything else. Mr. Snyderís strengths were that he had been a hard worker on the farm all his life and was independent and wanted to remain in his own home. Mrs. Snyder said in an earlier visit that he seemed to be lost without his work on the farm.