A 90-year-old woman has been a patient of the Beacham Ambulatory Care Center since 2000. Chronic conditions are pernicious anemia, osteoarthritis, and urinary incontinency. She is fully functional and fully independent. She provides care for the homebound husband who has severe COPD. They live in a row home specifically “close to the hospital” to ensure access to house calls for her husband.
In September 2000, the husband dies as a result of respiratory arrest. Her only relative is a nephew who talks with her about once a month. In October 2002, her home is broken into and our patient is raped and robbed. She was taken to a local hospital specializing in rape. Here, she is distressed, delusional, and is reported to be very emotionally distraught.