I have a paper due on thursday , june 27th

Family Systems Viewpoint 1

Running Head: FAMILY SYSTEMS VIEWPOINT
Family Systems Viewpoint
Family Systems Viewpoint 2

Mr. Mendes de Leon: A Family Systems Viewpoint
Introduction
In recent times, all the people prefer to live in single family rather than joint family
tradition concept. Similarly Meade & Wiesner-Hanks (2008), predict that family life including
marriage practices, family sizes and the gender relations within the family has been changed due
to change of people in a way of living. Author provides rationale for single family and changes
in the functioning of the family impacts on the older adult and other members of the family. This
paper explains family systems of Mr. Mendes de Leon to obtain information of its functioning
and its health issue. It also addresses the structural and functional issues of Mr. Mendes de Leon
and the strengths of this system in working with elderly.
Mr. Mendes de Leon Family:
On the basis of an interview that is conducted in previous paper some basic information
has been collected about his family life history. Mr. Mendes is a 68 year old and he was
marrying her wife after graduation at age 24 in 1969. He had a son in 1971 and a daughter in
1975 with the births distant spaced. His wife was death before the 5 years ago due to her health
problems. His son's marriage at age 25 in 1996, has one child a girl.
Furthermore, his daughter's marriage at age 24 in 1999 had two children both are boys.
Mr. Mendes son also married but he doesn’t know where he lives and about his daughter due to
has not contracted with them in several years.
Potential Past Issues:
On the basis of system theory any change in the life of one family member also affects
the other members of the family. In this case, the death of Mr. Mendes wife mainly impacted on
his life, living ways and thinking about the living. In this paper, we would gather information of
Family Systems Viewpoint 3

family relationship to evaluate his viewed about their relationship in those years. Prior in his wife
dead, he lived life in happiness and full enjoyment but after his wife's death his philosophy of
life has been totally changed.
On the base of Mr. Mendes daughter's statement predicts that there has not any big
conflict between in its and his wife, they both respect and understand each other. We know that
Mr. Mendes suffered from mental health problems after his wife's death and later hospitalized for
approx seven months in a state treatment center. It is faced health issues due to low hemoglobin
or vitamins quantity in blood and depression during this period of time. His situation probably
improves into the lives of his in its child or grandchild. Moreover, his wife's death has not
affected on his children or grandchildren or the prior generation because they has not depend or
related to his family.
Mr. Mendes wife belongs to expended family probably the child support system has not
applied through this time period. Therefore, we look for any other information about its unique
family dynamics to understand his role in the family and relationship with his family members.
In addition, wife death and mental illness have been major negative events that impacted them in
different ways.
Family Role Reversal:
In 2008, after his wife's death Mr. Mendes moved in his son and daughter-in-law and
their daughter. He stayed with them for only some months around 10 months and then resettled
alone in his old house, where he and his wife lived. Mr. Mendes was only 63 when he moved in
with his son and his son was 37 and the father of a 6 year daughter.
According to Meade & Wiesner-Hanks (2008) perspectives, this time was not the care
giving scenario of old people or parents of above 50’s and was not caring scenario for adult
Family Systems Viewpoint 4

children or ill parent. In this case, the son had not taken parental care responsibility and wanted
to support of his father. At the same time, Mr. Mendes was dependent on his son or daughter
after his wife's death for engaging self in volunteer or social activities. It is also an important
aspect that considers to his family system uniqueness. We also need to follow that due to the
western culture and changes in family life; the children have not chosen parental care, trust for
him and were not experiencing this.
On the other hand, in this case, the spouse was out of care giving condition due to the
death of his wife. His responsibility would be taken by his son but the major care giving done by
his daughter. His son didn't support them at the time that might impact on various family
groupings the daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, the granddaughter or grandson, and the sister or
brother. This situation indicated that all did not go well in Mr. Mendes about his move from the
son and he thinks his son and daughter-in-law was not supporting him.
In addition, the generational differences and thinking differences in between Mr. Mendes
and his don or daughter-in-law may have been a reason of conflict within a family. After moving
from his son into their old room Mr. Mendes behavior and nature has been totally changed. He
has not wanted to go outside the house or involve in social activities and loss of living hope, was
anger and waiting to die. Moreover, difference in religious values between Mr. Mendes and his
daughter-in-law also were a potential source of problems in living them in one home.
Furthermore, his daughter's behavior has changed for her father during the period after he
had been living alone in its old house. When Mr. Mendes was moved into his son house, his
daughter was living in the same city with his husband with two sons. Mr....