Critical Thinking Essay

Question Description

Instructions: Read the attached Perez Family Case Study and reviewwhat has happened to the family system since Ramon, the grandfather hasdied. After reading the case study, answer the questions that follow.Your entry will be evaluated for clarity, integration of informationfrom the text and scholarly literature, and for evidence ofproofreading.

We were introduced to the concept of Transitions and Trajectories in Chapter 10.And, as we have leaned from reading chapter ten, for better or worse,people experience challenges and changes that initiate and influencetransitions that can be life altering. These life altering changes caninitiate behavioral changes as well.

In Chapter 16, we are introduced to Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’ “5 Stages of accepting impending death”.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, (born July 8, 1926, Zürich (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., Switz.—died Aug. 24, 2004, Scottsdale (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., Ariz.), Swiss-born American psychiatrist and author who was a pioneer in the study of death (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.and dying whose work helped revolutionize the care of the terminallyill and helped change attitudes toward pain control and death itself.She was especially known for having identified five stages of griefexperienced by the dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, andacceptance. Kübler-Ross, one of identical triplets whose survival was atfirst doubtful, knew at a young age that she wanted to be a doctor anddefied her father’s plans for her to be his secretary in the business hemanaged. Instead, she worked at a variety of jobs and, when World War II (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.ended, did volunteer relief work in Poland before studying at theUniversity of Zürich, from which she received her medical degree in1957. She moved to the U.S. the following year and was disturbed todiscover the medical community’s tendency to refuse to acknowledge thereality of death to terminally ill patients and therefore to deny thosepatients the help they needed for dealing with it. In the early 1960s,as a teaching fellow at the University of Colorado’s medical school,Kübler-Ross began to try to enlighten (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.her students on the subject, and while working in Chicago, she heldseminars in which the terminally ill were interviewed and allowed toexpress themselves. It was from these interviews that she developed herdescription of the five stages of accepting death.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elisabeth-Kubler-Ross (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Far too often, our assumptions about people are based on our ownprevious experiences, and often what we see at surface level. This meansthat important details are hidden from sight during the initialimpressions. Unfortunately, just about everyone has made a snap decisionbased on these incomplete impressions. We profile people based onwhether or not they wear their hair a certain way, or if their shirt istucked in or loose, or sometimes even if they are wearing a tie or at-shirt. A person’s actions, or reactions, and or how we treat peopleare often influenced by simplistic and often inaccurate firstimpressions. We need to be mindful of the word “cope”, and the presenceor absence of coping skills, as well as the presence of positive andnegative behaviors that accompany coping abilities. Be mindful thatcoping is a verb that relates to how effectively someone or somethingdeals with a difficult situation.

If a rather disheveled, and foul-smelling person that reeked ofalcohol entered your office, it would be easy to assume that they arenot a successful functioning member of society. In doing so, you havefailed to turn the page, and discover the story that lies within. Askill to master is to learn the importance of how to place judgmentalglasses aside, and view a person through the lens of empathy andunderstanding

To empathize means to be capable of identifying and understandinganother person’s feelings, without experiencing them for yourself atthat particular moment. It is the ability to literally experience theworld from another person’s perspective; to walk in their shoes, to viewlife from their living conditions and to feel what it feels like to bethat person.

What have they experienced? Do they have any positive coping skills?Do they have a good support system? Are they aware that they havestrengths? Is their behavior reactionary?

These are only a few examples of questions that can help youunderstand a person from a holistic, or multidimensional perspective. Aswe know, a multi-dimensional perspective includes

physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects, along withconscious and subconscious aspects, as well as rational and irrationalaspects.

INSTRUCTIONS:

After reading the Perez Case Study, you are to address the followingaspects and how they relate to this case. You are required to providedepth and thought in this assignment. If your submission lacks effort,deductions will occur. Always be proud of your work!

a). List and explain the major transitions and trajectories for the following family members. Carmen (2 points), Luis (2 points), Ramon (2 points) Rolando (2 points).

b). Apply Kübler-Ross Model of the Grieving Process to Carmen’s situation. Explain each of the 5 stages and how they relate to Carmen. Provide examples for each. (2 points).

Case Study: Perez Family

Luis, 41, and Maria, 40, Perez have immigrated to the US fromArgentina with their seven children. Rolando is 19, the eldest and onlyson in the family. Lupe, 17, Anna, 15, Roselina 13, Gracelia, 10,Yesenia, 8, Gariella, 6 and Maritza, 3, have looked forward to the moveto the U.S.

Luis’ elderly parents, Ramon, 81, and Carmen, 79, have also come withthe family, leaving behind most of their belongings and two dogs thatCarmen raised since they were four-week-old puppies.

The family was successful in Argentina but decided to immigratebecause Luis felt there would be more opportunities for his children.The family was able to purchase a small piece of land in a ruralcommunity in the western part of the U. S. with the intention ofproducing grapes to market to a winery.

Luis and the children are quite fluent in English although Spanish isthe first language used in the home. Maria knows some English but lacksconfidence in her ability to speak the language. Ramon and Carmen donot know English at all, have no interest in learning the language, andare committed to keeping tradition alive within the family.

Luis is the youngest son of Ramon and Carmen and was brought up in a strict Catholic home, educated by nuns through 12thgrade. Luis has always been in good health and is unusually physicallystrong. Luis married his childhood sweetheart, Maria, at age 20.

Maria has known Luis her entire life and married Luis at age 19,straight from a convent all-girls’ school. Any time they spent togetherprior to their marriage was chaperoned by a great aunt. Maria’s parentsdied in an accident when she was young. Maria is an only child. Luis’family is now her only family. The marriage is very traditional inroles.

Carmen and Maria had always started their day with mass but can nolonger attend church because the closest church is now over 15 milesaway and neither of the women know how to drive.

Rolando is the first born and only son of Luis and Maria and the hopeof their family name. Luis has plans for Rolando to go into this newfamily business and looks forward to the many grandchildren that Rolandowill give to the family. Rolando has great respect for his parents,family and tradition and always wants to please everyone. Rolando wantsto attend college and is struggling with his identity.

Lupe is very outgoing and has already adjusted to this community.Lupe has already made a lot of friends in her new school situation andis looking forward to going away to college to be away from therigidness she perceives in her family.

Anna is very shy. She has not been able to make friends and every dayis a struggle to attend school. Anna spends her time with her mother orgrandmother. If she is not with them, she retreats to her room. Anna’sschoolwork is suffering and she is withdrawing more and more fromeveryone. Anna wants to be anywhere else but right here and feels tiredand empty. Anna has started to wear loose clothing and long sleeves evenon warm days.

Roselina is much like Lupe in making friends immediately. She is anhonor student and very athletic. She has found a new pastime going tothe mall with her friends. Roselina has been late for dinner and notalways remembering to do her chores around the house. Roselina is notthe least bit interested in “family stories” as she puts it. Roselinawas close to Anna but now would rather be with her new friends.

Gracelia has been working very hard in school, making some new friends and is quiet and an avid reader.

Yesenia and Gariella are excited with their new house and new school;they love their teachers and have been begging for a puppy.

Maritza is always by her mother’s side. When they moved to theStates, Maritza had been out of diapers for quite awhile but now seemsto be experiencing quite a few accidents as well as regressing in heruse of vocabulary words.

Luis has begun to feel unusually fatigued and has had some moments offeeling unsteady when he is working in the vineyard. He has had somemoments of numbness and blurred vision but attributes them to the longhours.

Ramon has been working with Luis. One afternoon, Ramon complains of aheadache from “too much sun,” collapses and dies en route to thehospital.

Carmen has known no other life than the sixty years they had beenmarried. Ramon had made all the major family decisions, took care offinances. During their years of marriage, they had to bury two infantsons and lost an adult son to cancer. Luis is their only survivingchild. Carmen had always derived her comfort from her priest. Church nowfor Carmen is just a place to attend mass since it is a ruralcommunity, the priest changes weekly. Carmen finds herself very angrywith the entire situation and feels totally alone.

Luis tries to plan a funeral for his father but his mother does notwant to make decisions. Luis’ stress level is high and continues to feel“off balance.” Luis is feeling financial stress and pushing Rolando topostpone going to college to be more help in the fields. Luis continuesto drive the point home that Rolando must carry on the family name andtake his place within the family business. As Luis is encouragingRolando to be more involved, he feels guilty about placing this onRolando because education was the very reason they had immigrated tothis country.

Rolando wants to please his father and continues to work in thevineyard but wants to go to college. Rolando is starting to show signsof depression because Rolando is finally willing to admit to himselfthat he is gay but does not want his parents to know. He feelstremendous guilt for he knows the shame he will bring the family. Fearand shame is a constant in Rolando’s life now and each day he feels moreand more hopeless.

Carmen has stopped helping with the children and is no longerinterested in doing family activities or even going to church on Sunday.Maria is feeling the strain of not having help and has no energy. Mariafeels that she is starting menopause and these are simply the symptoms.

The younger children continue to enjoy their time with each other andtheir new friends. Graciela has liked school, especially math. Theteacher has been calling on Graciela regularly to read out loud inclass. Graciela has been complaining of stomachaches each morning andasking her mother to allow her to stay home.

Maria eventually learns that she is pregnant and is fearful to letLuis know because of the strain he has been under. Normally, she wouldgo to Carmen for advice but Carmen continues to move further and furtheraway from the family.

Luis continues to work long hours in the vineyard, meeting with localwinemakers and marketing his product. There have been some extrafinancial burdens since the death of his father, such as some medicalbills.

Luis falls one day, having total numbness in his lower back andlegs. For this reason, he was brought to the hospital for tests. Thefamily feels it is the strain of what he has been under but the MRIreveals that Luis has multiple sclerosis that seems to be progressingrather rapidly. Luis is admitted to the hospital with plans to have himparticipate in rehabilitation.

Rolando is starting to feel an enormous burden because his mother hastold him that he is now the “man of the family” and needs to fill hisfather’s role while he is ill. Rolando’s grandmother tells him the pridethat both his now deceased grandfather and father have in his abilityto run the vineyard.

Rolando works each day and goes straight to his room. He has mostlystopped eating and communicates very little. Carmen is now prayingopenly for the family and cries all of the time but continues to isolateherself from her family and church.

Maria is now overwhelmed with a new baby on the way and with ahusband who is ill with a progressive disease. Maria does not understandwhat has happened to her life.