Design should include identifying, implementing, and evaluating coping skills and contingency strategies to manage changes (e.g., changes outside one’s control, such as death of loved one or pet, or moving to a new community, and changes one chooses, such as lifestyle change).

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

Why would some decisions require more thought than others?
How can you use a problem-solving model to make a decision?
What skills can help you cope with unexpected change (e.g., death of a loved one or pet, moving to a new community, unexpected illness)?
What community resources are available to help you cope with change?
What types of changes might you expect in life?

Communication

How do you acquire attitudes and beliefs about change? Can you change these attitudes and beliefs? If so, how?
What are some positive ways to communicate dissatisfaction with a change?
Why is it important to communicate your feelings when changes occur in your life?

Leadership

What factors determine how well your support system works?
What can you do to enhance your support systems within and outside the family?
How can you assist others in managing change?

Management

What are the consequences of failing to manage change? Give a personal example of a time when you had difficulty with change.
What management strategies can help you improve your skills in acquiring and processing new information?