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: ___jaspreet kaur __________________________________________________

Date: ___30 july 2025__________________________________________________

CASE #1

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
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 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.

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)

Feelings:
 Concern or worry for Mrs. Green’s safety and wellbeing.
 Frustration or helplessness seeing her distressed and potentially being subjected to
abuse.
 Empathy for Mrs. Green’s situation and desire to help her.
 Anxiety about the possibility of further harm or neglect.
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 Helpful or unhelpful:
 Helpful: Empathy and concern can motivate action and advocacy to protect Mrs.
Green.
 Unhelpful: Feelings of frustration or helplessness might hinder decision-making or
delay reporting necessary action if not managed properly.

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

a. Mrs. Green looks miserable and helpless, suggesting emotional distress.

b. She appears anxious and avoids eye contact when her daughter is
present.
c. She seems nervous and unwilling to speak or act independently,
indicating possible fear or intimidation.

3. In this situation, describe how power is being exerted over another person. (2
marks)

Power is being exerted through emotional control and verbal abuse by Mrs. Green’s
daughter, who criticizes her daughter harshly, questions her choices, and dismisses her
feelings. This dynamic demonstrates the daughter exerting dominance and authority
over Mrs. Green, potentially manipulating or intimidating her to maintain control.

4. What action is appropriate for the PSW to take in this situation? Why? (3 marks)
The PSW should report the suspected abuse and neglect to the appropriate
authorities, such as Adult Protective Services or a supervisor, because it is their
responsibility to ensure Mrs. Green’s safety and well-being. Reporting is essential
to protect her from further harm, especially since signs indicate she may be
experiencing emotional or physical abuse. Taking action helps safeguard her rights
and ensures she receives the necessary support and intervention.

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.

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 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. (1 mark)

Feelings:
 Concern and worry for Sarah’s safety and wellbeing.
 Empathy for her pain and fear, and sadness seeing her in distress.
 Shock or discomfort upon seeing the bruise.
 Guilt or helplessness about not being able to do more to help her.
Helpful or unhelpful:
 Helpful: These feelings can motivate the PSW to take appropriate action to ensure
Sarah’s safety.
 Unhelpful: If feelings of guilt or fear lead to hesitation or inaction, they could prevent
the PSW from reporting or addressing the abuse properly.

2. Identify three signs that indicate Sarah is abused. (3 marks)

a. The large, purplish bruise on her upper arm, which suggests physical assault.
b. Her fear of admitting the truth and her reluctance to tell anyone, indicating she
may feel intimidated or afraid.
c. Her emotional distress, including crying and begging her not to tell, indicating she
is under emotional pressure or fear.

3. Describe two ways in which Sarah is demonstrating denial. (2 marks)

a. She told an obvious lie about how she got the bruise, claiming she hit the
freezer door rather than explaining the real cause.
b. She insists that her husband is a “good man” despite the clear sign of injury,
denying or minimizing the abuse and her own suffering.

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 4. What other emotion is Sarah displaying? (1 mark)
Sarah is showing fear—evident from her tearfulness, her pleas not to tell anyone, and
her emotional distress, all indicating she feels threatened or afraid of her husband.

5. What action is appropriate for the PSW to take in this situation? Why? (3 marks)
The PSW should report the suspected abuse immediately to the appropriate
authorities, such as Adult Protective Services or a designated child/protection
agency, because Sarah’s physical injuries strongly suggest abuse, and she is clearly in
an unsafe situation.
Reporting is essential to ensure her safety and protection of her children, and to
provide her with support and resources to escape or address the abusive
circumstances. Maintaining confidentiality is important, but safety takes priority. The
PSW can also document what they observed and told Sarah, as part of the reporting
process.

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’ 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.

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)
Feelings:
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  S
h
ock and concern upon witnessing Mrs. Ross violently shaking her son.
 Fear and anxiety about the child’s safety and well-being.
 Sympathy for Ray and distress that a caregiver might be acting so aggressively.
 Guilt or helplessness about not being able to intervene immediately.
Helpful or unhelpful:
 Helpful: These feelings can motivate the PSW to take immediate action to protect the
child and report the incident.
 Unhelpful: If feelings of fear or shock cause delay or hesitation, it could prevent the
PSW from acting quickly or appropriately.

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

i She may be overwhelmed and exhausted from caring for triplets and
managing other children, leading to frustration and anger.
ii She could be experiencing stress or postpartum depression that affects
her mood and behavior.
iii She might be frustrated due to fatigue, lack of support, or feeling
overwhelmed by the challenges of caring for multiple premature infants and
older children.

3. Identify two behaviours in Ray that indicate that he may be abused. (2 marks)
a. Ray appears more fearful than usual, which could be a sign of emotional or
physical abuse.
b. His decline in speech clarity and use of “baby-talk” may be a response to
trauma or severe stress, possibly linked to abuse or neglect.

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

The PSW should immediately report the incident to the appropriate authorities or
child protective services because Ray’s safety is at risk. This kind of outburst and the
visible signs of distress indicate possible abuse or a dangerous environment. Acting
swiftly is crucial to protect the child and ensure his safety and well-being. The PSW
should also document what they saw and heard, and follow organizational protocols
for such situations.

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