DSP Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a common physical sign that may indicate an individual is experiencing abuse?
- Increased participation in preferred activities
- Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries in various stages of healing (Correct answer)
- Improved communication with support staff
- Consistent weight and healthy appearance
Correct answer: Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries in various stages of healing
Unexplained or repeated physical injuries in various stages of healing are red flags for physical abuse and must be reported promptly.
Question 2: When an individual with a disability discloses abuse to a DSP, the DSP should:
- Promise to keep the disclosure confidential to maintain trust
- Listen calmly, believe the individual, ensure their safety, and report immediately per agency protocol (Correct answer)
- Ask the individual detailed questions to gather as much evidence as possible
- Delay reporting until the DSP can verify the information independently
Correct answer: Listen calmly, believe the individual, ensure their safety, and report immediately per agency protocol
DSPs must believe and support the individual, ensure their immediate safety, and report the disclosure without delay or conducting their own investigation.
Question 3: Self-neglect in an individual with a disability refers to:
- The individual choosing activities that carry minor risk
- An individual's failure to perform self-care tasks that threatens their health or safety, sometimes linked to incapacity (Correct answer)
- A DSP choosing not to intervene in non-urgent situations
- An individual refusing one specific type of treatment
Correct answer: An individual's failure to perform self-care tasks that threatens their health or safety, sometimes linked to incapacity
Self-neglect occurs when an individual is unable or unwilling to adequately care for themselves, resulting in risk to their health, safety, or well-being.
Question 4: What is the primary role of Adult Protective Services (APS) in abuse cases involving individuals with disabilities?
- To provide direct support care to individuals after abuse is confirmed
- To investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and coordinate protective services for vulnerable adults (Correct answer)
- To discipline DSPs who fail to meet care standards
- To serve as a mediator between the individual and the alleged abuser
Correct answer: To investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and coordinate protective services for vulnerable adults
APS is responsible for receiving and investigating reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults and arranging protective services as needed.
Question 5: A DSP accepting gifts or money from an individual they support is an example of:
- A harmless expression of appreciation that can be accepted
- A boundary violation and potential financial exploitation that violates professional ethics (Correct answer)
- An acceptable practice if the gift is small and infrequent
- A positive indicator of a strong therapeutic relationship
Correct answer: A boundary violation and potential financial exploitation that violates professional ethics
Accepting gifts or money from individuals served is a boundary violation that can lead to financial exploitation and must be avoided per professional ethics codes.
Question 6: Which of the following best helps a DSP prevent financial exploitation of the individuals they support?
- Handling all financial transactions on behalf of the individual without their input
- Keeping accurate records of all financial transactions, never co-mingling funds, and following agency financial policies strictly (Correct answer)
- Discouraging individuals from managing any of their own finances
- Allowing informal borrowing from the individual as long as it is repaid
Correct answer: Keeping accurate records of all financial transactions, never co-mingling funds, and following agency financial policies strictly
Accurate record-keeping, separation of funds, and strict adherence to agency financial policies are the primary safeguards against financial exploitation.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of neglect by a DSP?
- Declining to perform a task that falls outside the scope of the care plan
- Consistently failing to provide an individual with required medications, meals, or necessary hygiene assistance (Correct answer)
- Redirecting an individual from a dangerous activity
- Following agency protocols that the individual disagrees with
Correct answer: Consistently failing to provide an individual with required medications, meals, or necessary hygiene assistance
Consistently failing to provide required medications, meals, or hygiene care constitutes neglect and can cause serious harm to the individual.
DSP Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Prevention 2
Which of the following is a common physical sign that may indicate an individual is experiencing abuse?