Chief Complaint Joseph Alabs, is a new patient who self-referred himself to the Behavioral Health Provider (BHP) a week ago. Joseph Ala is a retired 74-year-old man diagnosed with anxiety, hypertension and rheumatoid Arthritis. Joseph is married and has seven adult children who are independent and live away from home. Joseph is a care giver for his wife who is diagnosed with bi-polar, depression, diabetes and arthritis. Joseph hired a housekeeper to help him once a week with cleaning the house and grocery shopping to reduce the stress of doing chores. Joseph and his wife recently built a smaller house to accommodate their retired lifestyle, income and health needs. Joseph reported he self-medicates with over the counter drugs and prayers
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He reported the empty nest syndrome affected him more than it affected his wife because he had to pick up doing chores, cooking and caring for his wife. Joseph reported he made poor financial decisions which resulted in financial dependency on his children. Joseph reported the financial dependency on his children causes him stress because he often has to remind the children to send money for his wife’s medication, groceries, house keeper and general expenses. Joseph reported feeling guilty about his declining health and dependency on his children. He expressed increase stress caused by caring for his wife and the delay in receiving monthly allowance from his children.
Functional Analysis
The BHP conducted an assessment using the DASS 21 to measure Joseph’s health perception, mental health status and support system. The BHP determined Joseph has diagnoses of depression and anxiety related to financial issues, perception of his medical condition, marital strain and his declining relationship with his children. The BHP used the Assessment of Health and Illness Management to screen Joseph’s resiliency and family dynamics. The BHP recommended Joseph’s wife attend his next session and his children participate in his third brief therapy session through telemedicine. The goal of these sessions are to help Joseph use his resources and support system to achieve personal and family
He reported the empty nest syndrome affected him more than it affected his wife because he had to pick up doing chores, cooking and caring for his wife. Joseph reported he made poor financial decisions which resulted in financial dependency on his children. Joseph reported the financial dependency on his children causes him stress because he often has to remind the children to send money for his wife’s medication, groceries, house keeper and general expenses. Joseph reported feeling guilty about his declining health and dependency on his children. He expressed increase stress caused by caring for his wife and the delay in receiving monthly allowance from his children.
Functional Analysis
The BHP conducted an assessment using the DASS 21 to measure Joseph’s health perception, mental health status and support system. The BHP determined Joseph has diagnoses of depression and anxiety related to financial issues, perception of his medical condition, marital strain and his declining relationship with his children. The BHP used the Assessment of Health and Illness Management to screen Joseph’s resiliency and family dynamics. The BHP recommended Joseph’s wife attend his next session and his children participate in his third brief therapy session through telemedicine. The goal of these sessions are to help Joseph use his resources and support system to achieve personal and family