POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 93 Case Studies The following case is not a true story, but is based on situations that people often hear about when they are working with senior abuse cases. Mr. McInnis (79 years old) has been living in a nursing home for the past five years. He was a coal miner until the mine closed. He has emphysema and needs oxygen on a regular basis. His daughter Joan (59 years old) visits him weekly. This week, Mr. McInnis told his daughter that Sally (24 years old), the night staff person, is very mean to him. He said that Sally yells at him if he asks for help to get to the washroom at night. Mr. McInnis told his daughter he is afraid to go to the washroom alone because he has to take the oxygen tank with him. He doesn’t feel stable enough to get himself and the oxygen tank to the washroom without a fall. Joan asked him if he has talked to the supervisor about Sally. He said he hasn’t because he knows Sally is a single mother and needs this job to support her two small children. He said that he and Sally used to be very friendly, but that things have changed over the past few months. He’s afraid if he says something that Sally might lose her job or, even worse, that things might get worse instead of better for him. He also told Joan that he is now having trouble sleeping. Joan is worried and not sure what to do. 1. SEE it! Do you see possible signs of abuse? If so, what are the signs? What might be happening? Financial abuse Emotional abuse Violation of right Sexual abuse Neglect Physical abuse Would you hesitate to name it? If so, why? What would help you overcome your hesitation? 2. CHECK it! How could you check this situation?What might you ask?Who might you ask?What other help is available? Before you act, ask yourself: What are the safety issues? Am I being respectful?
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