Question

A nurse interviews an 82-year-old resident of a long-term care facility who says that she has never gotten over the death of her son 20 years ago. She reports that her life fell apart after that and she never again felt like herself or was able to enjoy life. What type of grief is this woman experiencing?

a. Abbreviated
b. Anticipatory
c. Dysfunctional
d. Inhibited

Answer 1

c. Dysfunctional. The woman is experiencing dysfunctional grief, which is characterized by a prolonged and intense grieving process that significantly affects the person's ability to function and enjoy life.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of grief that the woman is experiencing is dysfunctional grief. Dysfunctional grief, also known as complicated grief, is when the grieving process becomes prolonged and intense, significantly affecting the person's ability to function and enjoy life.

In this case, the woman reports that she has never gotten over the death of her son, and her life fell apart after his death. She states that for the past 20 years, she has never felt like herself or been able to enjoy life. These symptoms indicate a dysfunctional grief reaction.

Dysfunctional grief may require professional intervention, such as therapy or counseling, to help the person cope and move forward with their life.