Page 53 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2019- Online Magazine
P. 53

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




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