Elderhood Case Study

Elderhood Case Study

Read the case of Mr. Z in Chapter 14 (Traveling Unchartered Territory section) and imagine having lunch with him.

• What are the physical challenges of aging with which Mr. Z. must cope?
• Why might Mr. Z. be living in a nursing home (what supports does he need)?
• In what sense is the nursing home optimizing Mr. Z’s functioning?
• Describe Mr. Z’s psychohistorical perspective.
• What insights does he have about history, time, and self awareness?
• What are the unique, creative adaptations that characterize Mr. Z’s story?
• What other questions would you ask him?

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Elderhood Case Study

Case Study Mr. Z

The following case illustrates the importance of psychological attitudes in allowing a person with serious physical problems to play a meaningful role in a social setting for the frail elderly. Mr. Z’s outlook helps him maintain his vitality and express his love of life.

Mr. M. L. Z is an 89-year-old White male of Eastern European origin. He lives in a midsized nursing home in the Midwest. Many of his daily activities revolve around circulating among the facility’s residents,

chatting, playing cards, reading to them, and “fetching things.” Most important, Mr. Z carries his old battered violin with him and at the drop of a hat will play a tune or break into song in a surprisingly strong, clear, melodic voice. He claims to be able to sing songs in any one of seven languages, and with the least encouragement will try out several for anyone who will listen.

Elderhood Case Study

Mr. Z is small (5’ 3”), frail looking, and completely bald. He has facial scars and wears extremely thick-lensed glasses. He seems to be known and well liked by practically all residents and staff of the facility in which he resides, and by many visitors there as well.

He recalls a colorful history. He “escaped” his homeland at the tender age of 16 to avoid compulsory military service and fled to Russia. There he was inducted into the army, and was subsequently sent off to duty in Siberia, where he lived for about 6 years. After another tour of duty in a border patrol he deserted, he made his way across Europe, and eventually came to the United States. Here he took odd jobs, educated himself, and in time “got into show business”; he became a vaudeville prompter. In time his contacts in entertainment took him around the world. Yet time took its toll.

He tells of marrying a woman with whom he lived for almost 40 years. They had no children and she died some 15 years ago. Following her death, he began to experience a series of physical difficulties. An operation for cataracts left him with the need for very thick glasses. At one time he had a toupee made, which he has not worn for some time. One leg was amputated because of a diabetic condition, and he now wears a prosthetic leg. In addition, he wears a hearing aid, false teeth, and, for the last year, a heart pacer. Several years ago he experienced what he calls a small stroke, which left him “mixed up” for a few days. But he “worked this out,” he reports, by “walking a lot,” an activity in which he engages frequently.

Elderhood Case Study

Mr. Z says he has never smoked and drinks only on occasions or holidays, and then only to a limited degree. He scorns food fads, and eats mostly fresh fruits and lots of vegetables; he loves fish and drinks lots of tea.

Despite all his troubles, Mr. Z maintains what is apparently a cheerful, optimistic view of life and circumstances, while he pursues his hobby of energetically helping his fellow residents keep their spirits up and their interests high. He is very highly regarded and seen as filling a very important role in his nursing home as a storyteller and entertainer.

CASE ANALYSIS

1. Imagine that you were having lunch with Mr.Z. What questions would you want to ask him?
2. Summarize the physical challenges of aging with which Mr. Z must cope.
3. Explain why Mr. Z might be living in a nursing home. What supports does he need?
4. DescribeZ’s psychohistorical perspective. What insights does he have about history, time, and self-awareness.