Module 5 – Abuse and Neglect Assignment

General Directions:

A. Work in a group, as assigned by your instructor.

B. Choose a group member to record the answers for the group.

C. Discuss the following scenarios and record your answers on the assignment

sheets provided.

D. One assignment will be submitted per group— each member will receive the

same mark, provided all participants contributed equally.

E. Submit your answers to your instructor at the end of the session.

F. Assignment is out of 30 marks.

G. Each group member will receive the same mark, provided all participants

contribute equally.

H. The assignment will count for 40% of your final mark in Module 5.

Name: Abolaji Shakirat (PSW0001641), Adeola Oyenike Ekenavie (PSW0001653), Amma Asare

Bediako (PSW0001647), Emmanuel Kofi Quarshie (PSW0001655), Hopelyn Uche Ogbuagu

(PSW0001684), Olamilekan Dauda (PSW0001814), Precious Omwanghe (PSW0001683),

Sharaine Waugh (PSW0001658), Shyam Shah (PSW0001656), and Zahra Gheidar (PSW000165).

Date: 10th September, 2024

Mrs. Green is your client. She is 78 years old and has progressive degeneration

of her hip joints that makes it very difficult for her to get out. You have been visiting

her for three weeks, helping with the vacuuming, washing, and providing some social

contact.

Although Mrs. Green seems to want you to continue coming to see her, you

notice that she is very anxious about your leaving on time. You feel that she is

probably

worried about the costs of your visits and wants to make sure that she isn’t

charged for extra time.

You’re aware that Mrs. Green has a daughter and, although she doesn’t say

much about her, you get the feeling that the daughter does visit. You have never met

her, though.

At the end of your last visit, Mrs. Green’s washer backs up, spilling water all

over the basement. Mrs. Green becomes very anxious, saying to you that, “It’s alright:

the water won’t hurt the floor. You’d better go, you’ll be late.”

You can’t just leave the water on the floor and insist on cleaning it up. Somewhat

reluctantly, Mrs. Green decides to let you do this and returns upstairs.

Just as you’re finishing, you hear the door. A younger woman speaks to Mrs.

Green. You notice that her tone is harsh as she says, “You’re out of milk and bread?

What did you do with all of the food I brought last week? Feeding those damn birds

again— you don’t have enough sense to make sure that you keep food for yourself.

Now I must get stuff because you’ve wasted what you had. Sometimes you act as
though you don’t have a brain in your head.”

Concerned, you put away the last of the cleaning supplies when you hear the

younger woman say, “Whose coat is this?” When Mrs. Green replies that it is yours,

the woman continues, “What’s the matter? You aren’t satisfied with all that I do? You

must invite some stranger into your house? Where are you getting all the money for

this?”

You go to the top of the stairs. The younger woman says to you, “Thanks for

your help, but my mother won’t be needing you anymore. I’ll make sure that you’re

well paid for today.” Mrs. Green looks miserable, but helpless. She looks down at the

floor.
1. Describe all the feelings that you (or other PSWs) might have in this situation.

Explain how they might be helpful or unhelpful in resolving the problem. (2

marks)

Psychological/Emotional abuse

In the above case study, client’s daughter (close family member) intimidates

with loud voice, being verbally abusive and making hurtful remarks towards her

ageism.

Financial /Material abuse

From the above scenario, it is obvious that client’s daughter has control over

financial and other household related activity and the behavior is restrictive in nature

limiting her ability to have her own financial freedom. Her daughter is also denying

her mother the right to receive personal care.

2. list three behaviors of Mrs. Green’s that indicate she may be abused. (3 marks)

Financial Abuse – you are out of milk and bread, what did you do with all the

food I brought last week? Feeding damn birds again and also notice that MRS Green

is anxious about your leaving on Time, you feel she is probably worried about the cost

of your visit and want to make sure that she is not charge for extra time.

Emotional Abuse-Don’t you have enough sense to make sure that you keep

food for yourself, I have to get stuff because you’ve wasted what you had sometimes

you act as though you don’t have a brain in your head.

Physical Abuse- concerned you put away the last of the cleaning supplies, when

you hear the young Woman says {whose coat is this} when MRS Green replies that it

is yours, the woman continues, what Is the matter? You aren’t satisfied with all do that

I do? you have to invite some strangers into your House, where are you getting all the
 money for this. Because of MRS Green is depending on her daughter for financial

support for her (ADL) job and care.

3. In this situation, describe how power is being exerted over another person.

(2 marks)

Here, the daughter of Mrs. Green is exerting abusive discretion due to

financial distress. It is obvious that the daughter is using emotional abuse as power

over Mrs. Green

4. What action is appropriate for the PSW to take in this situation? Why? (3 marks)

As a PSW, it is important to document the situation and report the abuse to a

supervisor immediately. Additionally, the PSW should distance themselves from the

situation, as the abuse may be linked to the financial burden caused by the PSW’s

visits.

CASE #2

You have been assigned to assist Sarah, a new mother, care for her infant

son. The mother requires help as she has recently had a sprained ankle and wrist

fractures. Although she can get around, she cannot look after the infant and her 2-

year-old daughter. Home care was ordered by Sarah’s doctor, despite the family’s

protests that they could manage on their own. You have been visiting for two

weeks.

Sarah is a quiet, painfully shy person. However, little by little, she has

warmed up to you. She smiles more often now and seems very grateful for your

visits.
 Today, as you hand Sarah her son after his bath, you notice a large bruise

on Sarah’s upper arm. It is purplish and about 10 cm. (4 inches) in diameter. Sarah

notices that you have seen the bruise and says, “Oh, that— I hit the freezer door

last night.” You must look doubtful, as Sarah begins to cry. She tells you that her

husband grabbed her arm and twisted it last night. She begs you not to tell anyone,

saying that she would be embarrassed if anyone knew. “He’s a good man,” she says

of her husband, “I’d have nothing if it weren’t for him.”

1. Describe all the feelings that you (or other PSWs) might have in this situation.

Explain how they might be helpful or unhelpful in resolving the problem.

As a PSW in this situation, a range of emotions may arise, including

sympathy, concern, frustration, anger, and helplessness. Feeling sympathy for Sarah's

plight can be helpful as it fosters empathy, enabling the PSW to approach Sarah with

kindness and understanding. Empathy drives the PSW to take the appropriate actions

for Sarah’s safety, ensuring she is supported both emotionally and practically.

Concern for Sarah and her children is crucial, as it will motivate the PSW to report the

suspected abuse and ensure that the family gets the help they need.

On the other hand, emotions like frustration or helplessness could be

unhelpful if they overwhelm the PSW. For example, if the PSW feels angry at the

husband or the situation, it could hinder their ability to respond calmly and

professionally. Similarly, helplessness might result in inaction or hesitance to report

the abuse, worsening the situation for Sarah and her children. Managing emotions is

critical; the PSW must remain focused on Sarah's well-being and take appropriate

action to ensure her safety while providing empathetic and non-judgmental support.
2. Identify three signs that indicate Sarah is abused.

There are several signs indicating that Sarah is experiencing abuse. First,

there is physical evidence of abuse, such as the large, purplish bruise on her upper

arm, which is inconsistent with her explanation of accidentally hitting the freezer

door. Second, Sarah’s minimization of the situation is a key indicator. She downplays

the severity of the bruise, a common behavior among individuals who experience

domestic abuse, as they often feel pressured to justify or excuse their partner's

violent actions.

Finally, Sarah’s fear and reluctance to seek help are concerning. When she

begs the PSW not to tell anyone, expressing embarrassment and loyalty to her

husband, this reveals emotional manipulation and suggests that Sarah is trapped in an

abusive dynamic where she feels she must protect her abuser. This behavior is typical

in cases of domestic violence, where victims often feel guilty or responsible for the

actions of their abuser.

3. Describe two ways in which Sarah is demonstrating denial

Sarah demonstrates denial in multiple ways. Firstly, she attempts to

minimize the abuse by attributing her injuries to an accidental collision with the

freezer door. This attempt to cover up or dismiss the physical evidence suggests that

Sarah is unwilling or unable to confront the seriousness of the abuse, which is a

common coping mechanism for victims.

Secondly, Sarah's assertion that her husband is a good man reflects her

denial of the abusive reality of her situation. Despite acknowledging that her husband

twisted her arm, she tries to justify his behavior by emphasizing the positive aspects

of their relationship, downplaying the abuse in favor of maintaining an idealized

seeking the help they need to escape abusive situations.

4. What other emotion is Sarah displaying?

Besides denial, Sarah is displaying significant fear. Her tears and pleas not

to inform anyone about the abuse indicate that she is deeply afraid of the

consequences of others knowing about her situation. She expresses embarrassment,

which is often tied to a fear of judgment, and her reluctance to report the abuse could

also stem from a fear of retaliation by her husband. This fear is compounded by her

belief that she depends on her husband and that she would have nothing without

him.

To address this, the PSW should provide a safe, non-judgmental

environment where Sarah can express her feelings. Offering to connect her with

resources such as domestic violence hotlines, shelters, or support groups can give

Sarah the confidence to take steps toward protecting herself and her children.

Building trust and offering practical support are crucial in helping Sarah feel

empowered to seek help when she is ready.

5. What action is appropriate for the PSW to take in this situation? Why?

The most appropriate action for the PSW to take in this situation is to

report the suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities, such as a supervisor, social

worker, or domestic violence hotline. Although Sarah has asked for confidentiality,

the safety and well-being of Sarah and her children must take priority. Domestic

violence is a serious issue, and by reporting it, the PSW ensures that Sarah and her

children have access to critical support services, such as counseling, shelter, and legal

assistance.
 Additionally, it is the PSW’s professional obligation to protect vulnerable

individuals, which includes reporting any signs of abuse, even if the victim is reluctant.

By documenting the visible evidence of the bruise, Sarah’s disclosure, and any other

relevant information, the PSW helps to ensure that intervention occurs promptly. This

action not only fulfills ethical standards of care but also provides Sarah with an

opportunity to escape the cycle of abuse and begin rebuilding a safer and healthier

life for herself and her children.

CASE #3

You have been assigned to care for the Ross family. The family just had triplets: three

girls. The girls were premature, but they are now home after two months in hospital.

There are two older children in the family, Ray, age two, and Lori, age five. Although

maternal and paternal grandparents are all living, they reside 1600 km away and

cannot visit to help.

The family seems to be loving and close-knit. The parents seem very happy with the

new additions— although they admit that the birth of three was very much a surprise.

You have been with the family for two months and over that time have noticed a

change in Ray. He seems less able to run as steadily as he did before. As well, he seems

to be using more “baby-talk,” not speaking words as clearly as he once did. He also

seems to be more fearful.

Today is your day off. You find yourself in the Ross’ neighborhood and decide to say

hello. As you go up to the door, you see Mrs. Ross violently shaking her son. She is

visibly upset and is speaking to him in a very angry voice.

1. Describe all the feelings that you (or other PSWs) might have in this situation.
 Explain how they might be helpful or unhelpful in resolving the problem. (2

marks)

As a PSW, seeing this situation would bring feelings of anger, shock,

disappointment and even empathy for both Mrs. Ross and Ray. Questions of Mrs.

Ross' cognitive and emotional state would be concerning, as well as Ray's

experience of emotional and physical neglect.

A PSW's feelings of anger, shock and disappointment in this situation,

would not be helpful nor resolve the issue but rather aggravate it and build

withdrawal and tension between the PSW and Mrs. Ross. However, displaying

empathy and embracing a calm and caring approach would be helpful. This will

gradually defuse further aggression being displayed. It is evident that Mrs. Ross is

overwhelmed with five (5) children. Remaining calm and empathetic to all parties

as the PSW would be more helpful.

2. Identify the possible reasons for the angry outburst in Mrs. Ross. (3 marks).

Ross could be experiencing several emotional and physical challenges,

after just giving birth to triplets and still mothering two (2) young children

without help from family, she could be stressed and overwhelmed with anxiety.

She could also be displaying symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety

based on her traumatic experience from having premature triplets.

Her angry outburst could also be a result of Ray trying to get her attention

because being two (2) years old, he was once the baby and the triplets have now

taken the full attention from his mother. Ray's feelings of neglect may lead him

to act out and pattern the triplets behavior (based on him using more baby-talk

and not speaking clearly). Ray may be placing greater demands on his mother for
 her affection and time. This can result in Mrs. Ross feeling overwhelmed because

she has to divide her attention to all the children and not having much time for

herself. This is stressful and may cause her to display acts of aggression.

3. Identify two behaviors in Ray that indicate that he may be abused. (2 marks)

a) He is not able to run as steadily as he did before because he feels

neglected and not getting as much attention as he did before. This can

also result in him becoming more timid to walk and go through the growth

stages as he should.

b) He seems more “fearful” possibly because of emotional neglect and

physical abuse.

4. What action is appropriate for the PSW to take in this situation? Why? (3 marks)

In this situation, the PSW should still stop by and say "hello" but try to be

calm and non-judgmental about what was witnessed. The PSW's presence may

help to restrain Mrs. Ross from causing further harm to Ray, and it could also

provide a sense of safety and security for Ray.

The PSW then needs to make a report to the employer/ supervisor of what

was witnessed, as well as all other observations. Based on the supervisor's advice

the PSW can then determine if the situation requires making a report to child-

protection authorities. After careful assessment of the situation, the supervisor

along with the Ross family can consider possibly acquiring additional help with

taking care of the children. In addition, Mrs. Ross' mental and emotional state is

very concerning and counseling may be recommended to help her with the stress

she may be experiencing from her growing young family.