Fragile X Syndrome
Juno is 32 and lives in a unit in the community. She shares the rental property with a male friend, Sean. Juno is becoming very frail, has Fragile X Syndrome (a genetic disorder that results in a range of developmental, physical and behavioural problems) and experiences episodes of schizophrenia if she doesn’t maintain her medication routine. The support worker attends in the mornings to support her to get out of bed and shower and dress each day, as well as to ensure she has taken her medication. The worker has recently noticed that Juno is rapidly losing weight.
The worker also notices a pattern of Juno not having food in the unit and that she seems to become very teary whenever the worker asks her what meals she has had or asks when Juno intends to shop for groceries. Sean often sits quietly in the lounge and Juno glances in his direction whenever the worker raises the issue of not enough food. Juno eventually states that she has no money to buy food, even though her pension went into her bank account that morning.
Are there any indicators of abuse? If yes, what are they? If not, why not?
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