5.3.2. The case of low function status
A home nurse visited a 70-year old lady at her
apartment. The lady is suffering from severe osteoarthritis.
Because of the joint deformity on her hips and
hands, she had trouble entering or leaving her home,
opening or closing doors, reaching for cabinets, and
using the bathroom. She complained to the nurse that
her bad joints have seriously interfered her daily life. Her
daughter has to come every evening to prepare her
meals, to help with her personal hygiene, and to clean
her apartment. She asked the nurse if there was
something that she could do to help her regain her
function and independence.
In this case, the woman’s function was limited by her
joint deformity. She was not able to perform activities of
daily living on the level that corresponds to her age and
living conditions. Her needs in many aspects of life
(physical, psychological, social, role, and spiritual) were
interfered with her functional impairments.