1. Distinguish between pain and suffering.

2. Identify key features of suffering, including social and psychological isolation.

3. Apply 'witnessing' to the alleviation of suffering.

4. Specify what limits and facilitates compassion.

8. Recognize problems both physicians and patients face in dealing with chronic disease.

Unit 6 Section 2Exercise 6 Caregiver burdeninstitutional encounters

Read the essay “What are we going to do with Dad?” Answer the discussion questions below.

Jerald Winakur, What are we going to do with Dad?

http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/24/4/1064

1. What are some societal and institutional failings that interfere with the care of the elderly?

2. What do you think are the major issues for family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease? Link to the article on Behavioral problems in dementia and cross-reference your answers. Behavior Disorders of Dementia: Recognition and Treatment http://www.aafp.org/afp/20060215/647.html

You may also wish to review the article on Caregivers in the link below.

3. How do the caregivers in the video and in Winakur’s essay cope? Identify coping skills and areas of help. Link to the article on caregivers and decide if the advice in the article applies to the caregivers encountered in these two narratives. http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001215/2613.html

4. Winakur points out that there is a paucity of geriatricians in the US. Reflect on your feelings about choosing (or not choosing) this specialty.

Summarize the societal and institutional problems that need to be addressed in order to care for the elderly.