ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Adult Protective Services

Who abuse the elderly?

• People often hear about elderly abuse in institutions, but only a small percent of elderly live in institutes.

• Most elderly persons live

independently. This may be alone,

with a spouse, or with relatives.

Who abuse the elderly?

• Most families don’t abandon, abuse, neglect or take advantage of their elderly relatives. But studies don’t point to the family as the single greatest source of elder abuse.

• Daughters, sons, grandchildren or

other relatives may be abusers.

Physical abusers are usually male.

• Psychological abusers are usually 50 or older. These relatives may have been looking forward to a time of personal freedom. They instead find themselves supplying almost constant personal and medical care to an elderly relative.

• In many families where abuse happens, conflicts have existed for years. There may be a pattern of violence in the family. The parent may have treated the child badly earlier in life. These problems come to a head when family members move into the same home.

How are the elderly being abused?

• Much has been written about abuse of the elderly by strangers. However, there is a

higher chance that family members will:

• give improper or little care to the elderly• neglect them or keep them in isolation• deny proper food or medical care• verbally abuse them• threaten them with nursing home placement• physically restraint them• hit or beat them• misuse their money or property• wish for their death to preserve an

inheritance that will otherwise need to be spent on their care

Rights of Adults- Adults have the right:

- to be treated with dignity and respect

- to refuse assistance- to make their own choices about how and where they will live

- to privacy

• The abused elderly often are not willing to tell anyone about their situation. They may resign themselves to the abuse due to:

• embarrassment

• pride

• fear

• love for the abuser

• a belief that living in an

institute is the only other choice

At times they do seek help. They may try to tell someone, but not be believed. Or they may suffer from a medical condition that prevents them

from understanding or clearly explaining what is happing to them

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• The average abused elderly person is :• 75 or older

• Living with his/her children or relatives

• In poor physical or mental health

• Usually female

“Hurt people, hurt people”.

Sandra Bloom, M.D.

FY 2009 APS Statistics

In FY 2009, 15,625 reports of adult abuse,

neglect, and/or exploitation were received

by local departments of social services.

59% of APS reports were substantiated.

Who Are the Victims?

SFY 2009 APS Reports- 69% over age 60- 31% ages 18–59 and

incapacitated- 63% women- 37% men- 69% white- 23% African-American

SFY 2009 Substantiated Reports

Types of Abuse: SFY 2009 Substantiated Reports

Self-Neglect56%Neglect

19%

Physical Abuse7%

Mental Abuse6%

Sexual Abuse1%

Financial Exploitation8%

Other Exploitation3%

Self-Neglect

Neglect

Physical Abuse

Mental Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Financial Exploitation

Other Exploitation

SFY 2009 APS ReportsLocation of the Incident

- 63% own home or apt- 11% other’s home or apt- 10% nursing facilities- 5% assisted living facilities- 4% DBHDS facility/group home- 4% other setting- 2% shelter or are homeless- 1% hospital

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Who are Mandated Reporters?

§ 63.2-1606 requires certain persons to report suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation

Who are Mandated Reporters?

-- A partial list of mandated A partial list of mandated reporters includes: reporters includes:

- doctors- doctors

- dentists- dentists

- nurses- nurses

- guardians- guardians

- social workers- social workers

- law enforcement- law enforcement

- mental health professionals- mental health professionals

Who are Mandated Reporters?

- Any person employed by or contracted

with a public or private agency or facility

who works with adults in an administrative, supportive or direct care capacity

Who are Mandated Reporters?

- Any person providing full, intermittent, or

occasional care to an adult forcompensation, including but not

limited to:- companion- chore- homemaker- personal care (home health) workers

But Remember. . .

ANYONE can make an APS report!

Challenges- Illness, frailty or dementia

may mask abuse or neglect.

- Social isolation increases risk and difficulty of identifying mistreatment.