Family Health Assessment

The family interviewed (Z) has a traditional family structureone dad, one mom, five children, ages 2 to 9. They are racial white, American, middle-class, Catholic, and living in a typical American suburb, somewhat older (their house was built in 1959). The overall health behaviors of the family are essentially good: the wife/mother is responsible for evening mealsshe cooks using organic ingredients and focuses on protein and healthy fats, but uses a lot of butter and cream in foods, which may put a strain on the familys livers eventually; the parents try to limit sugars (no soda, sweet treats on occasion but not in great abundance). The dad is having some elimination issues at night, frequent urination, which he has self-diagnosed as a swollen prostate issue, and he takes saw palmetto for it (a homeopathic remedy). He does not want to see a doctor as he does not trust the health care establishment. Three areas in which heath barriers to health are identifiable are: the fathers reluctance to seek care for his prostate, the mothers focus on high-fat content foods. Also, exercise for the children is apparent, but the mother and father do not get much in the way of physical activity.

The familys health strengths are that they are aware of the importance of avoiding too much sugar, as it can be a factor in diabetes. They are also aware of the importance of exercise for the children. These are two good strengths. However, there are some barrierssuch as the dads attitude towards health care overall (he distrusts the industry), the mothers acceptance of high-fat foods, and the lack of exercise for the parents (the kids get play, but the parents do not seem to get any physical exercise except on occasion with the kids).

Family systems theory posits that families are organized into hierarchical units, with each member playing a specific role in the functioning of the family (Fitzgerald et al., 2020). This theory can be applied to solicit changes in family members that, in turn, initiate positive changes to the overall family functions over time. For example, if a family member is not fulfilling their role within the family, it can disrupt the entire family system. By soliciting changes from that individual family member, it is possible to improve the functioning of the entire family. Additionally, as families go through different life stages (e.g., birth of a child, death of a family member, divorce), the roles within the family system may need to be adjusted in order for the family to continue functioning in a healthy way. Therefore, by understanding and applying family systems theory, it is possible to create lasting positive changes within families. For the Z family, the theory would apply in terms of increasing health literacy for the adults, which would then impact the children.

Health...…not seek care than to seek it. This may be the result of some bias that could be addressed through education. Families with low health literacy overall are more likely to experience multiple hospitalizations and re-admissions. Improving family health literacy can help improve family health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. There are many ways to improve family health literacy, such as providing patient education materials in plain language or partnering with community organizations to provide resources and support. Health care providers can also play a role in improving family health literacy by assessing patients' needs and providing targeted interventions. By taking steps to improve family health literacy, we can help families achieve better health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs (Vamos et al., 2020).

Overall family systems theory could be used to help bring about positive change in the Z family. For example, if the family members were to begin working out together and eating more nutritious meals (not just high-fat content meals), this would likely lead to improved family dynamics and increased trust in the health industry. In addition, as the family members became more physically fit, they would likely have more energy and motivation to engage in other activities as a family, such as spending time outdoors or taking trips to the park. Ultimately, by using family systems theory to bring about positive change in one area of the family's life, it may be possible to…