Council on Aging Answers 2016 - 69

COUNCIL ON AGING - ORANGE COUNTY

available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A thorough assessment is done of the senior's care needs
and their available resources, with the goal being to
develop an individualized plan of care. Seniors are
then referred to resources within the community to
assist them in improving their quality of life.
APS partners with community agencies such as
law enforcement, domestic violence agencies, medical and mental health professionals, and senior centers to provide services to vulnerable seniors in the
community. If the abuse or
neglect reported occurred in
a long-term care facility, the
report is forwarded to another State-mandated program,
the Ombudsman's program
at the Council on Aging
Orange County for further
investigation. APS also partners with the Orange County
Hoarding Task Force, the
Elder Abuse Forensic Center,
and the Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) bringing
together various community
agencies to address some of
our more challenging circumstances.
If you believe a senior is
being abused or neglected,
please do not hesitate to
call the Adult Protective Services Registry at 1-800451-5155 to file a report. The law requires that your
name and all of your identifying information, such
as your name, relationship to the senior and your
telephone number, be kept strictly confidential. Rest
assured that your information will not be shared
with the senior, but you also have the option of filing
a report anonymously. Your call could make a world
of difference in a senior's life!
For additional information visit ssa.ocgov.com/
abuse/elder or, or contact the Council on Aging's
Ombudsman Program and FAST Team at 714-4790107.

APS partners with
community agencies
such as law enforcement,
domestic violence agencies,
medical and mental health
professionals, and senior
centers to provide services
to vulnerable seniors in the
community.

This article was contributed by Patrick Jenison,
Senior Social Services Supervisor with APS in Orange
County.

Council On Aging-Orange County | 714-479-0107 | www.coaoc.org Answers Guide 2016

FINANCE & LEGAL

though Henry says he ran into the door, but Henry
appears to Joe to be timid around Richard now...
These are just a few examples of the situations
Adult Protective Services is called upon to investigate and intervene to help seniors in Orange County.
Elder abuse is a serious problem facing the growing
aging population in Orange County, as well as the
elderly across the country. The United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2010, 11.6 percent of
Orange County's population was 65 years and older,
but in 2014, that estimate
jumped to 14.1 percent.
Elder abuse comes in
many forms. It can include
neglect of an elder's care,
physical abuse, domestic violence, misappropriation of
funds, theft, verbal attacks,
and isolation of seniors from
contact with friends and
family. Elder abuse also occurs at all income levels and
in every community within
Orange County. Seniors may
also have difficulty meeting
their own needs. Financial
hardship, physical limitations, or a lack of assistance
with caregiving can lead to
the detriment of their health
and welfare.
In 2014, over 800 reports of abuse and neglect were
received and investigated every month by Orange
County Adult Protective Services. Women are almost twice as likely as men to be the victims of abuse
and neglect, and 65 percent of the abusers in the reports received were family members. Out of fear of
the consequences for their loved ones, or the fear of
being alone if they depend on their family members
for care, seniors often underreport abuse or neglect.
National estimates are only 1 in 6 cases of elder
abuse are ever reported.
Orange County Adult Protective Services (APS)
is State-mandated to investigate allegations of abuse
and neglect involving seniors and, in most cases that
investigation includes face-to-face contact with the
senior within ten days of receiving the report. If
needed, immediate response by a social worker is

http://ssa.ocgov.com/ http://www.coaoc.org

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