This Week You Are Going To Participate In A Discussion ✓ Solved

This Week You Are Going To Participate In A Discussion On A Novel Or

This week, you are going to participate in a discussion on a novel or movie. Please choose one of the stories below and read the novel or watch the movie. You'll participate in the discussion thread related to the story you choose:

• Fault in Our Stars novel by Green (2012) or Fault in Our Stars movie (2014)
• Still Alice novel by Genova (2009) or Still Alice movie (2014)

This family story discussion has two parts:

Part 1: Construct Grid (ALL)

Using the blank construct grid, choose 8 constructs relevant to the family in the novel or movie and complete those rows of the grid. Share your completed constructs with your discussion group and explain why you chose them.

Part 2: Family Story Discussion

Fault in Our Stars

The remaining focus is on the Fault in Our Stars book or movie. The provided questions are meant to start the discussion. You do not need to answer all of them. The goal is a free-flowing conversation where participants share their experiences and insights. Choose one question to focus your thoughts, and feel free to add your own questions.

• John Green uses the voice of a teenage girl to tell this story. Why do you think he chose to do this? Was it effective? How would it have been different if told from a different voice? How does voice relate to family nursing practice?
• What does the title, Fault in Our Stars, mean? How would you describe Hazel and Gus? How do Hazel and Gus relate to their cancer? Hazel states, "Cancer books suck." What does she mean? How do Hazel and Gus change over the course of the novel?
• Why is "An Imperial Affliction" Hazel's favorite book? Was it real? What do you think about the author Peter Van Houten? Why was it important for Hazel and Gus to learn what happens after the heroine dies in the book?

Still Alice

The focus here is on the Still Alice book or movie. The questions are intended to initiate discussion. Feel free to answer one and share your perspective, or pose your own question related to the novel.

• Why do you think the author named the book "Still Alice?" How is Alzheimer's not only Alice's diagnosis but also her family's? How does Alzheimer's affect household roles? Why might the author have written the story from a third-person perspective instead of personal?

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Alzheimer's disease remains one of the most challenging neurodegenerative disorders, profoundly impacting individuals and their families. The novel Still Alice by Lisa Genova and its film adaptation portray this devastating illness through the perspective of Alice Howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. The narrative explores how the disease affects personal identity, family dynamics, and the emotional landscape of caregiving, offering a profound insight into the progression of Alzheimer's and its ripple effects on loved ones.

Title significance, "Still Alice," emphasizes the persistence of self amidst the encroaching forgetfulness and disorientation characterizing Alzheimer's disease. This title suggests that despite the loss of memories and cognitive abilities, Alice remains fundamentally herself, clinging to her identity and humanity. The choice to title the book in this way underscores themes of resilience and the human spirit's endurance even as physical and mental faculties decline.

The novel is narrated from a third-person perspective, providing an objective yet compassionate view of Alice's journey. This narrative choice allows readers to witness the internal struggles of Alice without the restrictions of a solely first-person viewpoint, which might have limited the depiction of her evolving perceptions and the family's reactions. The third-person perspective fosters a broader understanding of how Alzheimer's impacts not just the individual but also every person connected to them, emphasizing the interconnectedness of family roles and relationships.

Alzheimer's disease drastically alters traditional household roles and relationships. As Alice's memory deteriorates, her independence diminishes, shifting responsibilities to her family members like her daughter Lydia, who steps into a caregiving role often filled by a spouse in other contexts. Her husband, John, experiences feelings of helplessness and frustration, struggling to support Alice while managing his own emotional turmoil. This shifting dynamic underscores how chronic illness necessitates adaptations within family structures, often challenging traditional roles and forcing new forms of cooperation and understanding.

The narrative's third-person approach also delineates the emotional toll and transformations experienced by the family. Lydia, for instance, faces the dilemma of balancing her career and caring for her mother, which highlights the broader societal challenge of balancing professional and familial responsibilities in caregiving. The portrayal of these changing roles fosters empathy and highlights the importance of support systems for families confronting Alzheimer’s.

Genova's portrayal illuminates the gradual loss of language and memory that characterizes Alzheimer’s, illustrating how these cognitive decline processes erode personal identity. Alice’s decline is depicted with accuracy and sensitivity, emphasizing that at its core, Alzheimer’s is an assault on the individual’s sense of self, which remains even as memories fade. The novel invites reflection on how love and human connection can persist despite such profound loss, challenging caregivers and families to find meaning during hardship.

From a family nursing perspective, the novel underscores the importance of patient-centered care that considers the emotional, psychological, and social dimensions of illness. The narrative illustrates that effective communication, empathy, and support are crucial in caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families. Family nurses must recognize the shifting roles, provide education about disease progression, and facilitate coping strategies to enhance quality of life for both patients and caregivers.

Overall, Still Alice provides a compelling look at the devastating impact of Alzheimer's disease while emphasizing resilience, love, and the enduring human spirit. It challenges healthcare professionals and families alike to consider the multifaceted dimensions of caregiving and the importance of compassionate, holistic approaches. This story reminds us that even as cognitive functions decline, the essence of personhood can persist, inspiring a deeper understanding of the dignity and worth of those living with dementia.

References

• Genova, L. (2009). Still Alice. Simon & Schuster.
• Alzheimer’s Association. (2021). 2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 17(3), 327-406.
• American Psychological Association. (2010). Guidelines for the ethical treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. APA Publications.
• Clarke, C. (2017). The impact of Alzheimer's on family roles and dynamics. Journal of Family Studies, 43(2), 211-229.
• Stern, Y. (2013). Cognitive reserve and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 9(2), 230-235.
• Wilkinson, H. (2018). Family caregiving in neurodegenerative diseases. Caregiving Journal, 24(4), 87-95.
• World Health Organization. (2020). Dementia Fact Sheet. WHO.
• Williams, K., & Adams, S. (2019). Communication strategies for dementia care. Journal of Nursing Care, 8(2), 45-52.
• Brown, J. (2012). Narratives of memory loss: Third-person storytelling in Alzheimer’s research. Memory Studies, 5(1), 42-54.
• Goodwin, G. (2014). Understanding the psychological impact of Alzheimer’s disease. Psychology Today.