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What
role do adult protective service workers play in elder abuse
prevention?
In
most communities, it is adult protective service workers
who are charged with investigating reports of abuse and
neglect. From their first contacts with victims, APS workers
make critical decisions about clients' levels of risk and
appropriate interventions. Specifically, they:
- Assess
clients' level of risk and danger
- Take
immediate action to protect victims' safety and property
- Collect
evidence and testimony to substantiate abuse
- Assess
clients' need for services to reduce their risk and vulnerability
- Provide
crisis intervention to alleviate clients' emotional distress
and meet their immediate needs
- Provide
or arrange for needed medical, legal, financial, or social
services
- Serve
as advocates to ensure that clients' service needs are
met and their rights are respected
- Provide
testimony in legal proceedings
What
can adult protective service workers do to enhance their
skills and improve their communities' response to elder
abuse?
- Learn
more about the extent of the problem, its causes, and
promising interventions and services
- Participate
in cross-disciplinary training events and forums
- Encourage
their agencies to participate in community initiatives
to raise awareness, identify unmet service needs, advocate
for new and improved policy and services, and improve
interagency communication and coordination
What
resources are available?
The
National Association of Adult Protective Services Administrators
(NAAPSA)
NAAPSA
was established in the mid-1980s to improve the quality
and availability of services for abused and vulnerable
adults who are unable to protect their own interests.
This is accomplished through its program of advocacy at
the national level and by assisting state and local administrators
secure technical assistance, develop resources, and educate
the public and legislative bodies about the needs of the
elderly and dependent adults. Membership is available
to APS administrators at the state and local level and
their staff; administrators of public agencies; and other
interested organizations. Membership benefits include
a newsletter, directory, and an annual conference.
NAAPSA
has produced the following publications of special interest:
(for information on how to order them, click
here)
Adult
Protective Services Compilation of Workload Studies
and Caseload Data (1997, 9 pp)
Report
by the Adult Services Task Force on the Perspective
of the States on a Federal Adult Protective Services
Statute (1995, 143 pp)
A
National Study of Involuntary Protective Services to
Adult Protective Services Clients (1993, 42 pp)
A variety of resources are available to APS personnel to
learn more about elder abuse, the role of other disciplines,
and intervention strategies. The Resources
section of this website includes a bibliography on elder
abuse and neglect, training resources, and a list of national
organizations.
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