Gilbert Grape Case Study

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Family Overview The Grapes are a family living in a rural and economically depressed community. The members of the Grape family presently residing in the familial home consists of biological birth mother Bonnie Grape, who is unemployed and 54 years of age. Amy Grape, the eldest child, Unemployed and currently 34 years of age. Gilbert Grape, the eldest male sibling who is employed at a local grocery store and is currently 24, years of age. Arnie Grape is Gilbert’s younger brother and is presently turning 18 years of age. Arnie reaching his 18th birthday is considered to be somewhat of a triumph by the Grape family, as Arnie suffers from a debilitating medical condition that has not only kept him from achieving age appropriate developmental milestones but also threatens to shorten his life expectancy considerably. The youngest sibling Ellen Grape is currently employed at a local ice cream parlor and is 16 years of age. In addition to the previously mentioned family members there are two persons who are no longer present within the familial home setting. Larry Grape the only sibling to have left the familial home is currently working as a flight attendant and is 32 years of age. Bonnie Grape’s former spouse, Albert Grape, biological father to all children in the Grape family unit is deceased. Mr. Grape had committed suicide some time ago by hanging himself in the basement of the home that the Grapes continue to reside in. The circumstances surrounding Mr. Grape’s death are important factors to consider when assessing the Grape family, as the psychological effects of this event are still being grappled with by the family Unit. Individual Assessment of Gilbert Grape Micro-Assessment Gilbert has expressed feelings... ... middle of paper ... ...reston. K.,Hudson, J., (2009), Mental health: overlooked and disregarded in rural America. Retrieved from. http://files.cfra.org/pdf/Mental-Health-Overlooked-and-Disregarded-in-Rural-America.pdf. on March 02, 2012. Ireland, M., & Pakenham, K. (2010). Youth adjustment to parental illness or disability: the role of illness characteristics, caregiving, and attachment. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 15(6), 632-645. doi:10.1080/13548506.2010.498891. Jiji, T. S. (2007). Family care giving to psychiatric patients: its impact on care givers. Rajagiri Journal Of Social Development, 3(1), 43-61. Kaplow, J. B., Saunders, J., Angold, A., & Costello, E. (2010). Psychiatric Symptoms in Bereaved versus Non bereaved Youth and Young Adults: A Longitudinal Epidemiological Study. Journal Of The American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(11), 1145-1154.

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