Page 53 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Stopping Adult Abuse by Wendi Edwards

Adult Protective Services
IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS Community Engagement Specialist

Many of our adult Seniors and adults • Poor hygiene, dehydration, or Some examples of services provided
with disabling conditions live alone. malnutrition by APS are: assistance with food,
medications, utilities, minor home
Those same individuals are often These same individuals can be at repairs, transportation, medical
dependent on others for various great risk for financial exploitation as assistance, home care referrals, and
types of care, which leaves them well. medical assistance.
vulnerable to persons whose
intentions are neither honorable nor Financial exploitation is defined as, Ideally, once the individual is helped
honest. Oftentimes, those causing “the illegal or improper use of another through our agency, they can manage
harm are related to the individual, or person’s money or property for on their own, thereafter.
a paid caregiver, or someone with an personal profit or gain.”
ongoing personal relationship. Reporting abuse, neglect and financial
It even includes, at times, using the exploitation is “everyone’s business”.
For that reason, Adult Protective identification information of another
Services is an agency that investigates (i.e. social security number or other Calls can be made to the Texas Abuse
cases of abuse, neglect and financial personal documents) in order to Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or made via
exploitation of such vulnerable adults. defraud a person. internet at www.txabusehotline.org

Abuse is the term for a person causing It does not matter to the perpetrator All calls are confidential, and you just
another physical or emotional harm. how much or how little a person has. might save a life.
Abuse comes in various forms - Some red flags
physical, sexual, emotional and/or for financial
verbal.
exploitation are:
Neglect can be either self-neglect or • Discrepancy
caretaker-neglect; however, many of between resources
the cases that APS is involved in are and living
self-neglect cases.
conditions
This occurs with individuals who • Frequent checks
cannot care for themselves, often written to “cash” or
due to age, disability or financial caregiver
limitations. These persons can be
found living in unsafe or unsanitary • Victim is unaware
conditions. of his income or
expenditures
Following are some red flags
regarding abuse and neglect: • New “friend”
coming around
• Lack of needed equipment
to help an older
• Lack of basic necessities person or take them
to the bank.
• Unsafe or unsanitary living
conditions When APS
identifies a need,
• Evidence of inadequate care services can be
provided to resolve
• Injuries that don’t match the the situation and
explanation such as bruises or burns make sure the
person is safe.
• Fearfulness

Lubbock Senior Link 53