different types of family units

Question 1

what are the different family units

Answer 1

nuclear
extended
single parent
grandmother raising grandchildren
blended
same sex
common-law relationships
communal or group marriages
unmarried adults living together

Question 2

what are the functions of a family

Answer 2

◼ Physical Maintenance – food, shelter,
clothing, healthy environment, etc.
◼ Functional support - through
allocation of resources for food,
education, shelter, leisure, etc.
◼ Reproductive and child-rearing –
planning to have children and to rear
and launch children in society
◼ Socialization – communication skills to
interact effectively at home, school,
work, etc.
◼ Maintenance of morale and
motivation – goal setting,
encouragement, support, recognition of
achievements and adjustment to losses

Question 3

what is the family’s role in influencing perception of illness

Answer 3

◼ Perception and interpretation of chronic
illness:
- threat or challenge
- major loss of a valued member
- illness is caused by supernatural
powers
- ability to cope with the illness
- reaction to illness

Question 4

families role in influencing healthcare decisions and health practices

Answer 4

◼ accept or reject prescribed therapies and treatments
◼ faith and trust in treatment
◼ use alternative medicines or traditional or folk remedies
◼ accept assistance from health care team
◼ be cared for at home or in a facility
◼ participate in lifestyle modification

Question 5

what is the impact of chronic illness on a family

Answer 5

◼ Stress on the family may lead to family conflict
◼ Grieving for the loss of the role of the ill member
(spouse, grandparent, mother, child)
◼ Reaction – anger, resentment, depression
◼ Ill client feels angry at having to depend on the
caregiver

Question 6

what are the effects on the primary caregiver when someone in family is sick

Answer 6

◼ Role reversal – child becomes a “parent”
◼ “Sandwich Generation”
◼ Assume multiple roles – caregiver, parent,
continue to work → feel burdened with the
new responsibility
◼ Overwhelmed with physical, emotional and
financial demands → “burn out” and possibly
abuse of the ill person or ill health

Question 7

what are the reasons for family conflict

Answer 7

◼ Stresses of ill family member
◼ Changing cultural practices and expectations
◼ Poor understanding of health care system
◼ Poor communication and problem-solving skills,
◼ Long-standing sibling conflicts

Question 8

what is the hcas role in family conflict

Answer 8

◼ Recognize the conflict (review signs &
symptoms of conflict)
◼ Inform your supervisor or team leader
◼ You may defuse a tense situation or
encourage communication without taking
sides.
◼ Follow agency policy