Luis Perez, usually strong physically fit 41 year old married male, with seven children ages three to nineteen and one on the way. He and his children speak fluent English. Luis has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Luis has known his wife Maria all his life and married her at 19. He moved his elderly parents and family from Argentina to the United States for more opportunities for his children. Upon arriving to the US Luis purchases land to grow grapes and sell to wineries. Soon his father passes away. Luis needs help to continue the family business and feels guilty because he wants his eldest son Rolando to put off college and provide the help. Luis loved and was very respectful to his parents who had been married for 60 years, so when his father died he felt a great loss not only for himself but for his mother who did not want help with the funeral arrangements and had starting isolating herself from the family. He did not have time to grief for worrying about his mother and also dealing with his deteriorating health and financial stress of not being able to take care of the family business or his family for that matter. Luis has some things working in his favor such as some of his kids are adjusting and others are not. Rolando 19, wants to go to college is gay, however he knows his father needs him to stay and help the family as well as get married and have kids to carry on the Perez name. Although Latino elders provided help and child care to their families, they also expected help and financial support from their grown children and are unhappy when it is not available. (Becker and colleagues (2003, Ashford, LeCroy, & Lortie, 2009). His 17 year old daughter Lupe adjusted nicely with the move, Anna 15, is having problems making friends, not doing well in school and possibly cutting herself. Roselina, 13, is making
References: Ashford, J. B., LeCroy, C. W. & Lortie, K. L., The Social Environment and Human Behavior (2009) Cenage Learning, (Page 616, Exhibit 12.12) http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=89927&orgId=nohs, retrieved 10/24/2010