After seven years of being cared for at home for severe Alzheimers disease Mrs. Dowd has been admitted to a LTC home

After seven years of being cared for at home for severe Alzheimers disease Mrs. Dowd has been admitted to a LTC home

After seven years of being cared for at home for severe Alzheimer’s disease, Mrs. Dowd has been admitted to a LTC home. Upon returning to visit his wife, Mr. Dowd finds her walking hand-in-hand with a male resident. Staff report Mrs. Dowd has been observed following this male resident into his room, which is immediately next to her’s. Mr. Dowd becomes angry and states, “Look, it is your job to protect my wife. Get that man out of here right now. I don’t want her involved with any other man. That’s why I admitted her here.”

ANSWER FOR ALL THESE QUESTIONDS:

1. What are some of the ethical issues in this case?

2. What do you generally recommend?

3. Is Mrs. Dowd able to understand and appreciate her actions with the male resident?

4. Do the staff have an obligation to intervene to protect Mrs. Dowd? Or at the request of Mr. Dowd?

5. If Mrs. Dowd was capable (competent), would the responsibility of the LTC home staff remain the same?