PSYC343_Observation
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School
American Public University *
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Course
343
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
9
Uploaded by JudgeRock12912
Running head: OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF JACK SMITH
Observational Study of Jack Smith
Jason L. Bowman
Student ID: 4431818
American Military University
1
OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF JACK SMITH
Forward
The groundwork for this assignment begins with several distinct questions related to the
observation of an elderly person.
The questions based for this study include my initial
impression of the person, their impression and social management skills, and assumed social and
stereotypical behaviors.
In consideration to the above framework, I was presented the
opportunity to spend a day with a former American political icon.
However, due to the nature of
office and former popularity of this individual, combined with his current medical condition(s),
the family asked that all personal information be masked and the nature of our conversations
remain “vanilla” as to keep this person unidentifiable.
The notes presented throughout this paper
were taken on an IPad using the note application and are displayed as screen-shots for reference
of questions or concerns I had in the reflection and development of this paper.
Out of respect for
the family’s request and to retain academic integrity, the observed person will be refereed to as
‘Jack Smith’ or ‘Jack’ and his age will be noted only as ‘early nineties’.
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OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF JACK SMITH
Observational Study of Jack Smith
In the United States, hospice and managed care for the elderly has increased in
popularity.
Providing a quality and dignified way of life for the elderly is one of the main factors
for the operation of these homes.
That display of formality and sense of warmth is the first thing
I noticed when I enter a managed care facility located about thirty minutes north of Richmond,
Virginia.
I started the morning with a scheduled meeting with the facility director to ensure I
was not an interruption to the facility’s operations nor its inhabitants.
Entering the facility just shy of 8 a.m. on June 9
th
, 2017, I was immediately greeted by a
receptionist.
The facility had a warmth to it with flowers and art work that filled every room and
hallway.
The color scheme is beautiful and relaxing, yet neutral enough that even the most
finicky of tastes would not mind.
Note 1:
Just after 8 a.m. I was introduced to the facility manager and the primary care director.
Both individuals were neatly dressed, well spoken and very confident in their roles.
They, like
the facility, were polished and made everyone feel at home.
After briefly discussing the
assignment I was given a facility overview and virtual tour consisting of the types of care and
various treatment options they offered.
Of note was the extensive about of rooms and resources
they offer for residence needing mental care, including those suffering from Dementia or
Alzheimer’s Disease.
They even offer a transitional service, increasing or curtailing provided
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OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF JACK SMITH
care as required for these patients.
It was not long after our introductions I was escorted to meet
a World War II Veteran and former public servant, Mr. Jack Smith.
Note 2:
After a short tour around the facility looking for Mr. Jack Smith, we [a nurse and I]
finally found him resting in an oversized recliner within his sparsely decorated room.
As he
awoke he was restless and nervous about my presence, noticing he had spilled his bottle of
Ensure [protein drink, used to supplement his diet to maintain body weight].
As my observation
begins, he is quick to point out that his grand-children are always spilling on his couch, taking no
credit for himself in this accident.
Our introductions are short as he tells me to just call him Jack.
Jack is a slender yet tall man with grey hair covering nearly his entire head.
He stands up
straight, and although my first impression is that of a confused or timid man, his posture and
bearing is that of someone who has demanded attention his entire life.
Jack’s clothes are half on, shirt untucked and do not match all that well.
Still, his button
up shirt had been pressed.
If it were not for the hanger marks on his slacks, you would think
those were straight from the tailor.
After summoning my help to tuck in his shirt and button the
trousers, I reexplain why I am there [a day early by his recollection].
It is at this point I can tell;
Jack is sizing me up just as much as I am observing him.
Although his body is weathered by age,
one can easily identify that he was once athletic, strong and good looking.
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OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF JACK SMITH
Note 3:
Once properly dressed we depart his room; he takes great pride in touring me through the
facility introducing me to friends and nurses.
His recall of names is not the best and when
reminded, always replies with
“I know that”.
Jack’s pride is something to marvel at, introducing
me to people as if I am there to do a story or interview him.
As Jack converses with me and his
peers, he tends to lose his place or thought.
He uses verbal pauses or dependent words to piece
his stories together.
During breakfast, his use of the phrase “on there” in order to bridge his
words together was so heavily used that I could not keep count.
Note 4:
Following breakfast, Jack continues to tour me around the home showing me every
aspect he can recall.
He ignores my instructions to just go about his day, insisting that ‘this’ is
needed info for my upcoming article.
Jack takes the time to show me where he has been
“working”, partnering with Dementia and Alzheimer residence.
By this time, I had figured that
Jack was too suffering from some sort of memory loss; a fact later confirmed by his family.
As
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OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF JACK SMITH
part of his treatment and to not upset his lifestyle, the facility and family devised a plan for Jack
to ‘work’ there [within the memory care wing] to ease his transition when required.
However,
Jack was not accepting of this plan calling it the “nut house” and did not care to get along with
the residence there.
Jack played up the stereotype of a harmless old man, missing no chance to flirt with the
nurses.
Most of the nurses were young, college age women who all wore a variation of a
traditional hospital scrub.
Jack was hands-on with them all...each got a hug or tap on the
shoulder.
Some got a flirtatious finger wag or a holding of the hand as introductions were made.
In this effort, Jack was a playboy and knew what he was doing.
Note 5:
After taking a short break due to a slight accident [see note five], I am able to rejoin Jack
downstairs.
The room we are in is called the “Room of Heroes” and is decorated with a picture
and description of every resident who served in the armed forces.
Of course, Jack’s picture and
service biography is on the wall and he makes sure I see it.
Joining us are four or five other
gentlemen and a few of the female residents.
The men take turns bragging about yesteryear and
their service.
Jack is swollen with pride [completely different than the embarrassed ninety plus
year old man upstairs].
Jack speaks of his men, his command and service with great detail.
I
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OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF JACK SMITH
was blown away with the clarity in which he remembered names, dates and locations of service.
In fact, while recalling this information his verbal pauses were nonexistent.
His peers were all engaged as this was their social niche.
Each man, beaming with
pride...halfheartedly listening while awaiting their turn to talk, comprising their thoughts.
The
conversation only took brief pauses as people entered or exited the room.
Eventually, the group
went on a nature walk, all the while sharing their stories.
I later spoke to one of the caretakers
about what I had witnessed.
She said the stories never change, each man remembers/recalls their
service without fail and with vigor.
Note 6:
Returning for lunch, Jack once again paraded me around as his “interviewer”.
Wanting to
observe his social interaction, I removed myself from his table and ate with one of the directors.
Jack did not mind my absence, immediately drawing a small crowd for conversation.
Although
he barley ate, he did ask for a beer with his lunch.
This small request resonated with me...I will
come back to this later.
He then welcomed his girlfriend to the table with a few of her friends.
For a guy in his early nineties, he seemed to have a strong and robust social network.
This
network of friends or neighbors must be important, hence showing off his “interviewer” and his
overall warmth in greeting his peers.
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OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF JACK SMITH
When we returned to his room, Jack promptly fell asleep watching television.
This action
matched every stereotype I have ever held for a man of his age.
Note 7:
After his nap, I rejoined Jack and his girlfriend as they played cards.
I have no clue what
game they were playing nor of the score.
The cards were probably a simple distraction or prop
within their conversation.
They talked about their families and their flower garden downstairs.
During their conversation she kept forgetting why I was sitting there, mistaking me for a nurse.
Jack would get short with her and remind her I was there for an interview (at this point it became
funny).
This conversation was very interesting; I am sure this same type of insignificant
relationship conversation was taking place in households all across America...couples
exchanging pleasantries as they go about life.
Nothing truly important being said, just sharing
between two individuals who found one another in this home.
I took my leave sometime after 5 p.m. with Jack’s final question to me being: “When will
this article be published?”
I am convinced he still believes himself to be on the political map,
someone people are looking to...and that is alright with me.
In my follow-up questions with his
family I found that no children ever visit his room.
Jack has outlived some of his own kids and
now even a grandchild.
His great-grandchildren are either in, or fished with college, and
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OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF JACK SMITH
unfortunately do not visit.
I learned that he often spills and loses items, blaming the kids and
caregivers for the mess.
Compiling the mess made by the spilled protein drinks, is the fact that Jack does have
troubles with his bowels and will hide soiled underwear and diapers in his room to avoid
discovery.
That need to circumvent his own embarrassment tells me he still very much cares
about his impression with others.
He choses to make up a cover story rather than be subjected to
the humiliation that comes with those types of aliments.
As for the beer...his family tells me that when Jack was a younger man he would host his
colleagues or subordinates for luncheons.
While stationed in Germany he picked up the habit of
having a beer over lunch and was known for elaborate or thought provoking toasts.
This ritual
faded out during his time as a political figure, but reemerged once he moved into the managed
care facility.
In appreciation to the family for access to their loved one and in recognition of a
life well lived, my coworker and I plan to go visit him again in the upcoming weeks and partake
in a toast and perhaps elevate Jack’s dignity and quality of life.
9
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