Deanna Green, social services supervisor with Washington County Job and Family Services, and Tracie Lewis, social services worker with Adult Protective Services, place pinwheels on the lawn of the Armory to remind people of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is today. (Photo by Michele Newbanks)
Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and Adult Protective Services wants to remind people of the harm done to those age 60 and older.
A display is set up on the Armory lawn, with each pinwheel representing a case investigated last year.
The display will be taken down Monday. The pinwheels are shades of purple, which is the color used for elderly abuse awareness.
Deanna Green, Adult Protective Services Supervisor with Washington County Job and Family Services, said people immediately recognize Child Protective Services, but may not know about APS.
The World Health Organization reported that nearly 1 in 6 people aged 60 and older experienced some form of abuse during the past year.
“This is likely to be an underestimation, as only 1 in 24 cases of elder abuse is reported, in part because older people are often afraid to report cases of abuse to family, friends, or to the authorities,” the organization’s website stated.
Tracie Lewis, social services worker with Adult Protective Services, said APS is for “people in our community that are aged 60 and older. It encompasses both neglect by others and self-neglect, abuse of any kind, and exploitation. Anybody can make a report and it is kept confidential.”
Green said there are several aspects of abuse they investigate, including physical, emotional or sexual abuse, self-neglect, neglect by others, or exploitation.
The National Council on Aging states:
¯ Physical abuse means inflicting physical pain or injury upon an older adult.
¯ Sexual abuse means touching, fondling, intercourse, or any other sexual activity with an older adult, when the older adult is unable to understand, unwilling to consent, threatened, or physically forced.
Green said there were no cases reported last year of sexual abuse in Washington County, but she believes it to be underreported.
¯ Emotional abuse means verbal assaults, threats of abuse, harassment, or intimidation.
Greens said emotional abuse includes verbally screaming or yelling at the senior, calling them names or using demeaning language.
¯ Green explained self-neglect is seniors not only neglecting their personal hygiene, but also not being able to afford medications, or receiving threats of eviction.
“By far, the most are self-neglect,” she said. “A close second is exploitation.”
¯ Exploitation is when someone misuses an elder’s funds or takes things without the senior’s permission.
¯ Neglect by other includes a caregiver’s failure to provide an older adult with life’s necessities, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, according to the NCOA.
Green said elder abuse can happen to anyone. People feeling isolated, depressed or lonely are especially susceptible.
“One of the biggest factors is isolation,” she added.
It can help an elderly person feel less isolated when they are regularly checked on by family or neighbors.
She said a way to protect against abuse is to stay in contact with the elderly family member, friend or neighbor. Open communication is important, as is socialization, whether it is through a church or the O’Neill Center.
Green said warning signs can be if the senior has unusual injuries or bruises, they are withdrawn, they aren’t able to pay bills they could normally afford, they are unkempt or they have unmet medical needs.
APS has had a handful of situations of exploitation and not taking care of an adult.
“(Washington County Prosecutor) Nicole (Coil) has been fantastic about getting these into court,” Green said.
In January through December of last year, there were 206 reports of elder abuse in Washington County. Green said a majority of time, they were reported by mandated reporters, such as doctors or nurses, but also bank tellers, who can notice unusual money withdrawals.
“If you suspect it, report it,” Green said. “You don’t have to know for sure.”
She said it is APS’s responsibility to investigate reports of suspected abuse.
Emergency reports are done within 24 hours, while non-emergencies are done within three business days.
“We need to protect our adults, just like we do our young children,” Green stressed.
APS is growing, Green said. They are trying to make sure people know they are available. They investigate reports of abuse of those age 60 or older who live independently.
Lewis said if needed, they can also make referrals to other agencies that provide in-home services in the community.
“Our goal is to help people stay safely in their homes,” she said.
To report suspected elderly abuse, call Adult Protective Services at 740-434-0531.
