Family Assessment Assignment

11 Pages 2692 Words

in which there is reciprocal communication among all family members (Clark, 2003). The family lives in the same city and is able to have frequent face-to face verbal conversations. The family also uses the telephone frequently to have verbal conversations. The subject of death and dying is taboo for the family. The family members are reluctant to talk about the eighty-five year old male’s illness. Many things are withheld from the children in the family. There is an attempt at denial for the outcome of this illness.
The family is very cohesive. The elderly couple has been married fifty-two years and is very supportive to each other. The forty-eight year old mother and twenty year old son are a sub-group and at times exclude the father from decision-making. The two brothers are slightly alienated from each other. The sister has a good relationship with both brothers. The daughter seems to have a closer relationship with the father than the mother.
Decisions are made by the whole family. A problem is first defined and evaluated by the parents with all alternatives being presented to the rest of the family. The family members give their ideas and usually a compromise can be found if there is a disagreement. The women in the family usually are the ones to carry out the decision.
The elder male had a “telling” relationship in regards to his family but with his current illness, he has let his spouse become the “telling” leader. This is appropriate at this time due to role adjustment and lack of motivation for him. The forty-eight year old female is the leader in her immediate family. She has a “participating” leadership style with the husband and twenty year old son. She uses a “selling” leadership style when dealing with her learning support son. A “delegating” style of leadership is used with her daughter which is appropriate due to her daughter attendance at a college in Philadelphia. At times she...