Mod 5 Abuse Assignment
Instructions
This is a read and response-based assignment. You will be given a case or general question and will be asked to respond in short answer form.
Part 1: Questions
Case:
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 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.”
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 have to 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.
Questions:
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)
List three behaviours of Mrs. Green’s that indicate she may be abused. (3 marks)
In this situation, describe how power is being exerted over another person. (2 marks)
What action is appropriate for the PSW to take in this situation? Why? (3 marks)
Case:
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.”
Questions:
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. (1 mark)
Identify three signs that indicate Sarah is abused. (3 marks)
Describe two ways in which Sarah is demonstrating denial. (2 marks)
What other emotion is Sarah displaying? (1 mark)
What action is appropriate for the PSW to take in this situation? Why? (3 marks)
Case:
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’ neighbourhood 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.
Questions:
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)
Identify the possible reasons for the angry outburst in Mrs. Ross. (3 marks)
Identify two behaviours in Ray that indicate that he may be abused. (2 marks)
What action is appropriate for the PSW to take in this situation? Why? (3 marks)
Submission
To submit your assignment, go to your class page and click on the “Abuse Assign - Response” button
This will lead you to the response page where you can answer each of the questions above and submit.
Note: Answers should be in your own words and not copied and pasted from your sources. Assignments which have been found to plagiarize sources, will be asked to re-write this assignment.
