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Adult
Protective Services
800-664-9774
Many
adults are hurt by abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The adults who are most vulnerable are those with
physical handicaps, those who are frail, and those
with mental or emotional disabilities. Abuse can
go on for years or may be a recent threat to the
safety of an individual. Those who are abused often
need assistance in protecting themselves, their
income, their assets or their environment.
What is Abuse?
Abuse of an elder or dependent adult includes any
of the following:
- Physical
Abuse
- Neglect
- Financial
Abuse
- Abandonment
- Abduction
The Elder Services Coordinating Council's Resources
Directory Committee worked with Passages to provide
the Network
of Care web site for use by Butte County's
Elderly and Disabled population.
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Physical
Abuse: Bodily injury, cuts, bruises, burns,
unexplained injuries, physical restraints, evidence
of sexual abuse, deprivation of food and water.
Isolation:
Preventing receipt of mail, phone calls, visitors,
or contact with concerned persons.
Financial:
Misuse of funds, unusual activity in bank accounts,
checks cashed by others, suspicious changes in
ownership, unpaid bills, missing belongings.
Neglect
by Self or Others: Inadequate food, dehydration,
untreated medical conditions, misuse of medications,
unsafe housing.
Abandonment:
A dependent adult or elder person who is left
alone and is unable to provide for their basic
necessities of daily living.
When a report of alleged abuse is received, a Social
Worker takes information regarding the nature and
extent of the abuse, neglect, exploitation, such
as what the reporter saw, why the reporter considers
it to be abuse, neglect or exploitation, and does
the reporter believe the alleged victim is in immediate
danger. If, after consultation with a Social Work
Supervisor, it is determined that the report indicates
that a dependent adult or elder is being abused,
or at risk of abuse, then the following steps maybe
taken:
- Initiate
a personal visit with the adult within 24 hours
to five working days depending on the risk of
imminent danger to the individual.
- With
the consent of the adult, interview the alleged
perpetrator if one has been named.
- Interview
collaterals when appropriate (service providers,
relatives, neighbor’s, etc.).
- Discuss
with the adult, guardian, conservator, and/or
caretaker what actions are needed and, with
the adult’s consent, develop service plans
or corrective action plans with recommendations
to prevent further harm.
- With
the adult’s consent, assist in locating
services which are necessary to maintain physical
or mental health: i.e. legal services, medical
care, appropriate living arrangements, assistance
in personal hygiene, food, clothing, adequately
heated and ventilated shelter, protection for
maltreatment, and transportation.
- Provide
advocacy to assure protection or personal rights.
State
law requires mandated reporters to report on all
suspicions of physical abuse, neglect, financial
abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction or other
treatment resulting in physical harm, pain or
mental suffering.
A
mandated reporter is any person who has assumed
full or intermittent responsibility for the care
or custody of an elder or dependent adult, whether
or not that person receives compensation. This
includes administrators, supervisors and any licensed
staff of a public or private facility that provides
care services for elder or dependent adults. Any
elder or dependent care custodian, heath practitioner
or an employee of a county adult protective services
agency or a local law enforcement agency is also
a mandated reporter. Knowledge of abuse occurring
to an elder or a dependent adult must be reported
to APS or a local law enforcement agency.
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
800-664-9774
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