Family case study

1. The Brown Clarke Family
Mary Brown
Aged 76
Chris Brown
Aged 34
David Brown
Died 2004
Laura Brown
Aged 39
Doug Clarke
Aged 40
Victoria
Aged 14
Philip
Aged 11
Jayden
Aged 5 Unborn
child

2. Mary Brown
Aged 76
Mary has been living alone with her son Chris since the death of her husband in
2004. She was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012 and in the last year has
been finding it increasingly difficult to care for her son, who has Down’s
syndrome. The family has now made the decision that Chris should go to live with
his sister Laura and her family.
Mary is able to cook for herself but has twice left the gas hob on without realising.
She enjoys getting the bus into town to go shopping but was recently distressed
when she could not remember where she lived and stayed on the bus until the
bus station. The police were called and were able to take Mary home using the
address on a letter in her handbag.
Mary takes medication for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Laura
telephones her every day to remind her to take her tablets.
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3. Laura Brown
Aged 39
Laura has lived with her partner Doug for 17 years. They
have three children, Victoria, Philip and Jayden and the
couple are expecting their fourth child in 6 months’ time.
Laura works part-time as a teaching assistant at the local
primary school. She often feels stressed and smokes 20
cigarettes a day. She is 1.66m tall and weighs 103 kgs
which gives her a Body Mass Index of 37.
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4. Doug Clarke
Aged 40
Doug has lived with his partner Laura for 17 years. They
have three children, Victoria, Philip and Jayden and the
couple are expecting their fourth child in 6 months’ time.
Doug works as a plumber which often involves evening
and weekend working when he attends emergency
callouts.
He gave up smoking one year ago and rarely drinks
alcohol. He has a history of depression which has been
severe in the past. He takes anti-depressant medication.
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5. Chris Brown
Aged 34
Chris was born with Down’s syndrome and had successful
heart surgery as a baby. He volunteers part-time at a
charity shop where he met his girlfriend, Sarah, who also
has Down’s.
Although Chris is very independent, he does not feel able
to live away from his family at present. He has found the
move from his mother’s house to his sister’s difficult and
does not always want to go to work.
He gets chest infections 2 – 3 times per year which require
antibiotics and occasionally a stay in hospital. He does not
smoke.
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