Non fiction Quote by Felicity Chapman - Counselling and Psychotherapy with Older People in Care
““Harold lies in the darkened room with curtains drawn. It is one thirty in the afternoon and his lunch tray seems to almost sigh at the untouched food. His words are soft and not many. He listens, looking down, as you speak about concerned staff referring him to a counselling program – you are here to see if he is interested. “I’m fine,” he says, in a rare attempt to meet your eye, and it is clear to you that he is not. He is 88 years old and five months ago his right leg had to be amputated due to complications with diabetes. Immediately after, he was transferred to an aged care facility an hours drive from his wife Elizabeth, two years his senior, who could no long care for him at home. A month after that he was transferred to this facility; his wife can now more easily visit him. But, he tells you, he does not know why she bothers. “There’s no point,” he says, and you wonder if he is also referring to being alive.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Counselling and Psychotherapy with Older People in Care, 2020
Harold, an elderly man with diabetes and an amputated leg, feels hopeless and disengaged in a care facility despite his wife's visits.
In simple terms: Elderly man feels hopeless despite family support.
Key Takeaway
Address emotional isolation in aged care settings.
Themes
aging
health
loneliness
mental health
caregiving
Mood
somber
empathetic
Type
clinical
social
When to use this quote
- healthcare
- family dynamics
- social work
Key Concepts
elder care
psychotherapy
patient engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can caregivers foster hope?
- What interventions reduce isolation?
A Different Perspective
The quote may not capture all coping strategies.
