Vulnerable groups of people’s interests receive protection from different resources. The elderly are considered a vulnerable population. This is because they can’t always take care of themselves. Because of this, protective services began to help the elderly. So, if you suspect that your loved one suffered neglect or abuse, Adult Protective Services (APS) can help. In addition, you can learn more about APS and what they can do for your loved one here.
What is APS?
Adults with disabilities and the elderly get protected by Adult Protective Services. Also, APS provides services to ensure their safety and well being. The elderly and adults with disabilities are at a higher risk for neglect and abuse than other groups of people. Adult Protective Services can help to make sure that these people don’t face mistreatment.
Adult Protective Services provides various types of interventions in the event of mistreatment. Services provided by APS include:
- Getting reports of adult abuse.
- Receiving reports of adult exploitation.
- Getting reports of adult neglect.
- Investigation of reports.
- Assessment of victim’s risks.
- Case planning.
- Monitoring cases.
- Evaluating cases.
- Medical services.
- Social services.
- Legal services.
- Economic services.
- Housing services.
- Emergency services.
- Support services.
- Law enforcement services.
- Service monitoring.
In most cases, Adult Protective Services caseworkers are first responders. So, this means they are the first people to respond to issues of neglect or abuse for the elderly. If you report neglect or abuse, you will likely deal with APS. You will deal with them throughout the process of determining what happened and getting justice.
APS Process
When a report goes to APS, they undergo several steps. The process looks something like this:
- A citizen or a mandated reporter makes a report of potential neglect or abuse to Adult Protective Services.
- A professional will review the facts provided to APS to evaluate the situation. This professional will determine if it meets the requirements for APS services.
- If the situation meets these requirements, an APS worker will meet with the victim.
- The APS worker will further assess the situation. They will determine what services the victim needs.
- The victim can either accept the help of APS or decline these services.
If you suspect that your loved one is the victim of elderly neglect or abuse, consider contacting Adult Protective Services. They can provide the help that your family needs at this time. A professional caseworker can review your loved one’s situation. Also, they can determine the best course of action. If you do not realize that your loved one is being abused, a mandated reporter might. The mandated reporter must report the abuse to APS. To learn more about getting your loved one help, you can contact a lawyer. For more information on protective services for the elderly, be sure to check out next week’s blog post. I will discuss other options to help your loved one. If you want to help them now, you should contact an attorney. Find an attorney who has worked with other neglect and abuse cases. They can help your loved one.
