Case studies
CALD Older People Resource
eCALD Supplementary Resources
Case Study 1: Elder abuse in the community: Mayada Assad’s story
Mayada Assad is 69 years of age. She is a refugee from Bhagdad who speaks little English. She arrived in New Zealand with her husband, who died a year after arriving, leaving her alone with no family support. Mrs Assad was being harassed by her neighbour in a Housing NZ pensioner flat because she was a Muslim. Her neighbour, an older male was often drunk and used rude and threatening language towards Mrs Assad, so that she was afraid to go outside alone.
Another resident in the pensioner flats contacted Age Concern about the situation, and she went with the Elder Abuse and Neglect Coordinator to visit Mrs Assad. It became apparent that Mrs Assad has poor mobility and possibly other health concerns.
What would be considered a culturally responsive approach for this case?
Case study 2: Elder abuse in the family: Mr Patel’s story
Mr Patel, an older Indian man, lives with his son, two grandchildren and his son’s new partner. The son’s partner does not like Mr Patel living with them and has made his life unbearable.
Mr Patel is expected to do the housework, prepare all meals, receive visitors only when other members of the household are not at home, and to be in his room by 7pm at night.
Mr Patel wants to return to India. However, he does not have the financial resources to do this. After suffering a heart attack Mr Patel is admitted to hospital.
How do you make it safe for Mr Patel to disclose the abusive situation in his home and what assistance and support will you make available to him?
Case study 3: Elder abuse in the family: Mrs Jang’s story (adapted from Park, 2013)
Mrs Jang is 80-years-old. She came to New Zealand with her son and his family 20 years ago. She has been referred by her GP to the cardiologist for chest pain. Test results show no abnormalities. Mrs Jang is seen by a hospital social worker who is Korean.
She tells the social worker that she has been financially exploited and emotionally mistreated. She feels “endless unfairness" about being betrayed by her own children. She says that she experiences symptoms of “extreme pressure on her chest” from time to time with “a feeling of tightness and heaviness in her chest”, in addition to serious sleeping problems. She tells the doctor that “my pain here [her chest] is really bad, so painful. . . you know, and I often have hard time breathing . . . however, my Kiwi [New Zealand] doctor always said that I am healthy and [there are] no problems in my chest”. She says that she is seized by “Hwa-byung”.
Mrs Jang tells the social worker that she would often pray for “not waking up in the next morning” before falling asleep at night. Mrs Jang is isolated in her home and has little social contact with others from her community.