Access the Social Work Case Studies media in the Learning Resources and explore the case of Najeeb.
BACKGROUND
Najeeb Najeeb is a 72-year-old Pakistani American who immigrated to the United States 40 years ago. He has two grown
daughters, Nasrin and Mira, who live in nearby communities with their families. His wife, Maryam, passed away approximately
10 years ago after a long illness. Najeeb and one of his daughters served as her caregivers during that time. Najeeb currently
lives alone in the house he and his wife bought, in a predominantly Pakistani American neighborhood. Najeeb owned and ran a popular news stand in the city until 5 years ago, at which point he retired and sold the business. Najeeb disclosed that he enjoyed operating the news stand because he had “a sense of purpose” and “lots of people to talk to.” Since retiring, much of his
social life has been focused on his Muslim faith and his family, with worship at the mosque and visits with his daughters and
grandchildren. His routine has also included daily walks around the neighborhood for fresh air and communion with others.
Recently, Najeeb has begun to experience health-related concerns which have impacted his ability to walk and socialize with
peers. Najeeb disclosed that religion is a big part of his life; however, he now has limited ability to ambulate, so he cannot
engage in daily ritual prayer in the manner he is used to. He also cannot easily get to the mosque, as he does not own a car,
cannot walk, and public transportation is difficult for him to navigate. According to Najeeb’s daughters, these mobility concerns have had a major impact on his psychological functioning. Nasrin and Mira have recognized a change in their father’s demeanor, describing him as “depressed” and “hopeless.” They encouraged Najeeb to reach out to the local agency on aging for
assistance.
Submit a 2- to 4-page paper analyzing the case and applying your perspective on spirituality.
Be sure to address the following:
• As a social worker, would you include spirituality and religion in your initial assessment of Najeeb? Why or why not?
• What strategies might you use to ensure that your personal values would not influence your practice with Najeeb? How would these strategies support ethical practice?
• How would you address the crisis that Najeeb is experiencing?
