Lucille

Lucille is a 77-year-old retired grade schoolteacher living in a two-bedroom senior housing unit. She became a widow in her 50s and never remarried. Lucille has two cats and occupies her time going to casinos, taking bus trips on weekends, and volunteering at the local library twice a week. One of her three children (her son), who remained single, lives nearby and routinely accompanies her to appointments and assists her with grocery shopping. Lucille had rotator cuff tears in both shoulders and received multiple cortisone injections. Her right (dominant) shoulder progressively worsened with pain and decreased range of motion because of advancing osteoarthritis. She was losing sleep because of pain and anxiety and was increasingly worried about her independence. Although her son was generous with his time, Lucille did not want to place any more burden on him. She and her orthopedic surgeon agreed on a trial of physical rehabilitation before resorting to surgery.