Challenges Faced By Human Service Professionals

Human service professionals’ desire is to help their clients and improve their quality of life. Sometimes clients have complex needs and make lifestyle choices that are not helpful nor address their needs, but they have the right to do so. The clients’ right to self-determination is of the utmost importance when the human service professional is collaborating with the client to help them address their needs. Clients that choose to make lifestyle choices that are not conducive to their well-being will often have needs that surpass the originating agency’s capabilities and will often need referrals to outside agencies to effectively manage their needs. Although, clients have the right to make their own lifestyle choices, human service professionals
Human service professionals have to be self-aware to ensure that their personal values do not become a standard that clients’ lifestyles should measure up to (Bea Hollander-Goldfein, 2009). It is imperative for the working therapeutic alliance to acknowledge that while clients’ lifestyle choices may differ from the human service professionals’, that the lifestyle choice be affirmed as the clients’ right (Bea Hollander-Goldfein, 2009). Mary who is a 65 year old Caucasian divorced female has been referred to the human service agency that I am a part of. Mary has been diagnosed with F25.0: Schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. Mary lives independently in her own apartment and has done so for two years. Mary had a traumatic childhood, in which her father physically abused her mother in her presence. In addition, Mary has very little natural supports and has a negative relationship with her daughter, due to feelings of betrayal. To complicate matters further, Mary has several medical conditions, which are, diabetes, arthritis, and renal failure. Due to Mary’s medical diagnoses, she sees specialist frequently, which include an endocrinologist, gastro enologist, and nephrologist. Mary is prescribed a plethora of medication for her various conditions and it is difficult for Mary to maintain
Mary is prescribed Metformin and insulin to manage her blood glucose levels. Mary has been provided with a weekly log with instructions on when to check her glucose levels and when a shot of insulin is necessary. Mary continues to eat foods that are high in sugar and carbohydrates; to make matters worse, Mary confusion has got to the point to where she does not remember when/if she is eating. Mary has also adamantly refused to receive dialysis to address her renal failure. Mary has her medication brought out to her daily during the week by my agency, but she is left to independently take her night dose of medication and weekend doses of medication, which she is forgetting to take, due to her confusion. Mary refuses to live in any other setting other than independently in her apartment. Mary’s insurance doesn’t fully cover for a home health aide to come and assist her with her medical issues, and paying out of pocket for these services is not something that Mary can afford to do. Mary has the right to do any of all of these and more lifestyle choices that she so chooses, but