Trauma Informed Approaches and Aging: Ruth

Ruth is an 87-year woman who just moved to the city to be closer to her daughter after her husband passed away. Ruth’s daughter agreed to bring her meals on a weekly basis. Ruth is an independent person and prefers to spend time on her own. Ruth moved into her new apartment on Monday with her daughter’s help. Ruth’s daughter made sure she had a week’s worth of meals before leaving for the week. The next day Ruth tripped on a rug in the living room and fell. She tried to bang on the floor with her fists to get someone’s attention. When she heard people walk by she would scream “help”, but after a few days her voice was hoarse from lack of water.

When Ruth’s daughter returned the next week she found her mother on the floor in the living room, unconscious and soiled. Ruth’s daughter called 911 and her mother went to the hospital. Ruth was weak, but there were no major problems. Ruth was ready to go home after a few days at the hospital.

Ruth returned to her apartment with extra support to help her live on her own. The agency that is now supporting Ruth set up a meeting. Ruth learned more about the agency and how they could help her. Ruth now has staff member named Kathy who comes to visit her daily. Kathy has been taught about trauma and understands that it affects each person differently.

Kathy has been working with Ruth for a week. She talked to Ruth about how trauma can impact people and Ruth shared how frightened she was when she fell down and could not get help. Kathy suggested that Ruth join a support group that addresses trauma. The people attending these group meetings are elderly people. Each person in the group has faced trauma in different ways. Ruth started to attend this group and said she enjoyed the first few meetings.

Kathy observed over the next few weeks that Ruth seemed quiet when she was at home and often avoided walking from her room to the kitchen. Kathy asked Ruth how she was feeling. Ruth shared her feelings of shame about being found soiled. She said she was reminded of this every time she walked by the stain on the carpet. Kathy asked if she could talk to the apartment manager about getting a new carpet. Ruth said she would like to replace the carpet and would rather have Kathy work on this task on her behalf. With the new carpet in place, Ruth began walking around her home. She continues to meet with other people in her support group and now has a close friend she talks to every day. Ruth decreased the number of hours of support she needs from the agency. Kathy comes over every week to help her with light cleaning, Ruth’s daughter still visits weekly, and now Ruth goes out her friends each week.