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Adult Protective Services
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You may call us about an adult who is at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation by calling: 419-352-7566.
For additional phone numbers Contact Us.
Adult Protective Services is an important service in our communities and in our nation. The fastest growing segment of the U.S. population is people age 60 and older. Abuse, especially of the elderly, is an important part of the increase in family violence. Like other family violence, elder abuse involves all backgrounds and cultures and is rarely confined to a single incident.
Sometimes adults are abused, neglected, or exploited by the person caring for them. Sometimes adults neglect themselves, because of health or mental health problems. In either case, it is important for our agency to have a chance to improve the adult's situation. We learn about adults who are at risk by hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to call and talk to one of the Adult Social Service workers if you know someone who may be at risk.
Every time we work with an elder, we assess their need for services provided at our agency, such as:
- Homemaker Services
- Home Health Services
- Chore Services
- Adult Day Care
- Respite Care
The elder may need referrals for other services, such as:
- Health Services
- Mental Health Serivces
- Legal Services
- Housing Assistance
- Transportation
- Nursing Care
- Nursing Home Planning
- Wheeled Meals
- Veteran's Assistance
- Victim's Assistance
Abuse of the elderly, like abuse of children, is usually caused by he caretaker being unable to handle stress. Some of the stressors are: financial problems; divorce; unemployment; being forced to give up a job to care for the elderly; and, shouldering the care and costs of an elder at a time when the caretaker needs to plan for their own retirement. The physical and emotional demands of an aging adult increase as time passes. The conflicts of trying to live with and/or care for an elderly parent or relative may cause the caretaker to abuse or neglect their loved one.
The elderly are most often abused/neglected when the caretaker will:
- give improper or little care to he elderly
- neglect them or keep them in isolation
- deny proper food or medical care
- verbally abuse them
- threaten them with nursing home placement
- physically restrain them
- hit or beat them
- misuse their money or property
The elderly usually do not tell anyone about their situation because of embarrassment, pride, fear, love for the abuser, or, their belief that anything is better than going to a nursing home. These same issues are often barriers for other friends or family who are aware problems exist.
Ohio statistics show that half of all reports of elder abuse involve elders who abuse or neglect themselves. The elderly person may:
- live on an improper diet
- refuse or be unable to eat
- refuse to seek medical care
- refuse or be unable to follow their doctor’s orders
- misuse alcohol or medicines
- wish to die, consciously or subconsciously
Many elders chose to live in these conditions although it places them at risk. It is difficult for family/friends to decide when the rights of the elder and the responsibility of family and the community begins. Adult Protective Services from our agency may be able tohelp the family with decision making and referrals.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Wood County Department of Job and Family Services if you suspect an elder may be at risk. We will assess the situation fully, and provide resources to the elder and their family.
Information taken from Protection for the Elderly. | |
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