Middle Aged Interview
Introduction: J.H. is a 52 year old divorced female of no occupation other than “retired stay at home mom.”
Couple/Family Tasks:
Task #1: J.H. enjoys her home and is constantly doing renovations or redecorating room by room. She takes pride in making her house feel inviting. She says it isn’t easy, but she keeps her two-story six bedroom clean at all times.
Task #2: J.H. has an IRA set aside when she finally reaches retirement age with adequate funds to support her and has money she has invested in mutual funds, stocks, and other savings accounts. She was confused by “emotional security”, but said she has her family and children if she ever needs any emotional support.
Task #3: J.H. is divorced and her two children have already moved out so she has no one to share household or other responsibilities with. She says her roles have only changed in such a way that she doesn’t have to perform “Mom” duties anymore as compared to when her children were still living at home and going to school. Her interests have remained the same and her abilities have only been altered by minor health problems, such as back sprains and a recent hospitalization due to anemia. When her children come home, she says they pitch in with the household chores.
Task #4: J.H. sees herself as emotionally stable. She was divorced 12 years ago, which she claims is plenty of time to come to terms with a single life and get past the emotional turmoil divorce is often accompanied with.
Task #5: She talks to her children regularly, more so her daughter, but she feels this is because they share that female bond. If anything important happens in either her own or her children’s lives, she says she is the first to know. Her two children are unmarried, so she’s anxiously awaiting marriages and grandchildren.
Task #6: J.H. said it was hard at first to adjust to both her children being gone as she had an entire house empty and to herself for the first time in over 20 years. She said
Couple/Family Tasks:
Task #1: J.H. enjoys her home and is constantly doing renovations or redecorating room by room. She takes pride in making her house feel inviting. She says it isn’t easy, but she keeps her two-story six bedroom clean at all times.
Task #2: J.H. has an IRA set aside when she finally reaches retirement age with adequate funds to support her and has money she has invested in mutual funds, stocks, and other savings accounts. She was confused by “emotional security”, but said she has her family and children if she ever needs any emotional support.
Task #3: J.H. is divorced and her two children have already moved out so she has no one to share household or other responsibilities with. She says her roles have only changed in such a way that she doesn’t have to perform “Mom” duties anymore as compared to when her children were still living at home and going to school. Her interests have remained the same and her abilities have only been altered by minor health problems, such as back sprains and a recent hospitalization due to anemia. When her children come home, she says they pitch in with the household chores.
Task #4: J.H. sees herself as emotionally stable. She was divorced 12 years ago, which she claims is plenty of time to come to terms with a single life and get past the emotional turmoil divorce is often accompanied with.
Task #5: She talks to her children regularly, more so her daughter, but she feels this is because they share that female bond. If anything important happens in either her own or her children’s lives, she says she is the first to know. Her two children are unmarried, so she’s anxiously awaiting marriages and grandchildren.
Task #6: J.H. said it was hard at first to adjust to both her children being gone as she had an entire house empty and to herself for the first time in over 20 years. She said
References: Murray, R., & Zentner, J. (2001). Health promotion strategies through the life span (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall.