Question

Mrs. C is a very traditional Chinese woman who began living with her son and daughter-in-law 3 years ago, after her husband’s death. Mrs. C and her husband had lived in a “Chinatown” part of the city where they could freely communicate in Chinese and interact with other Chinese individuals. She never developed fluency in English and has experienced considerable difficulty communicating with neighbors since moving into her son’s suburban community. Mrs. C’s son has assimilated American values and practices and has been critical of his mother for her traditional ways; he would not acknowledge her when she spoke in Chinese and refused to allow her to cook Chinese foods. His wife is not Chinese but has been sympathetic to the elder Mrs. C.

Last week, Mrs. C suffered a stroke that left her with weakness and some aphasia. She will require care and supervision. Mrs. C’s son states that he does not want his mother in a nursing home, but that he is not sure he can manage her; his wife says she is willing to take a leave of absence from work and help care for her mother-in-law, if that is what her husband wants.

THINK CRITICALLY

• What problems do you anticipate for each of the C family members?
• What can be arranged to assist the family?
• How could you assist Mrs. C in preserving her ethnic practices?