Assingments % - Integrate Chronic Sorrow into Long-Term Care

You are a case manager for a family with a young child diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Explain how the Theory of Chronic Sorrow can be used as a framework for planning care and identifying resources for this family.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Understand the Theory of Chronic Sorrow

The Theory of Chronic Sorrow was developed by Ellen Ann Moss in 1986. It describes the ongoing, recurring grief and sorrow that caregivers and families experience when living with a loved one who has a chronic condition, such as cerebral palsy. This theory suggests that chronic sorrow is a normal, inevitable response to the loss of expected dreams, goals, or a “normal” life due to a chronic illness or disability. It’s important to recognize that the sorrow is long-term and cyclical, often triggered by events that remind the family of their child’s condition.

Step 2: Apply the Theory of Chronic Sorrow in Care Planning

As a case manager, your role is to ensure the family receives comprehensive care that addresses both the physical and emotional needs of their child and family. Here’s how you can apply the Theory of Chronic Sorrow in your care planning:

Acknowledge the Emotional Impact:
- Recognize that chronic sorrow is a recurring experience for the family. It’s not just a one-time grief reaction but an ongoing emotional response.
- Assess emotional well-being: Regularly check in with family members to see how they’re coping emotionally, as chronic sorrow may surface during milestones or challenges related to their child’s condition.
Normalize Grief and Emotional Struggles:
- Validate their feelings: Help the family understand that feelings of grief, sorrow, and loss are normal and that they are not alone in their experience.
- Encourage open discussions about grief within the family to allow everyone to express their emotions, fears, and frustrations.
Plan for Continued Care and Support:
- Recognize that, as the child grows, the family may experience new forms of sorrow, especially as their child faces developmental delays or milestones missed compared to peers.
- Help the family adjust expectations and create realistic goals for their child’s care while acknowledging the emotional toll of unmet hopes.

Step 3: Identify Resources for the Family

To support the family, it is important to connect them with both practical and emotional resources. Here’s how:

Support Groups and Counseling:
- Refer the family to support groups where other families living with cerebral palsy can share experiences and coping strategies.
- Encourage family members to seek individual or family counseling to process the grief and sorrow they may experience at different stages of their child’s life.
Respite Care:
- Provide resources for respite care, allowing family members time to recharge emotionally and physically. This service can help reduce the strain of constant caregiving, allowing for emotional healing.
Educational Resources:
- Share information on cerebral palsy, its progression, and available therapies to help the family set realistic expectations and goals for the child’s development.
- Offer guidance on educational planning (e.g., Individualized Education Plans, or IEPs) to support their child’s academic and developmental needs.
Financial Assistance:
- Connect the family with resources for financial assistance, as chronic medical conditions often come with significant costs for treatment, therapies, and equipment.
Community Resources:
- Help the family find local community organizations that provide additional services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, as well as recreational programs adapted for children with disabilities.

Step 4: Integrate Chronic Sorrow into Long-Term Care

Throughout the care plan, incorporate regular check-ins to monitor both the child’s progress and the family’s emotional needs. By recognizing that chronic sorrow is ongoing and can appear at various stages of life, you can support the family in developing coping strategies and adjusting to change in a healthy way.

Encourage the family to celebrate small victories and milestones with their child while also acknowledging grief when they face setbacks or difficult reminders of the child’s condition.
As the child ages, their needs may change, so revisit the family’s emotional and practical resources regularly to ensure that they continue to receive the support they need.

Conclusion

The Theory of Chronic Sorrow offers a useful framework for case managers when planning care for families with a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy. By acknowledging the ongoing emotional impact of chronic sorrow, providing the family with appropriate resources, and continuously supporting their emotional well-being, you can help the family cope with the challenges of caregiving while still focusing on the child’s care and development.