PROTECTING VULNERABLE ADULTS FROM ELDER ABUSE

  • Adult Protective Services

    APS is an agency under the auspices of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services whose mission is to protect older adults and persons with disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation by investigating and providing or arranging for services, if needed, to stop or prevent further harm.

  • What is Elder Abuse?

    Elder abuse includes physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect (including self-neglect), and abandonment.

    CALL TOLL FREE TO REPORT ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION OF THE ELDERLY OR DISABLED:

    1-800-252-5400

    OR FILE AN ONLINE REPORT AT https://www.txabusehotline.org

  • APS and LESSB

    After an APS caseworker identifies a client need and exhausts other funding opportunities, he or she writes a request for funding from LESSB. That request is then reviewed by an APS supervisor who then passes approved requests to the APS Community Engagement Specialist who also reviews it and passes it on to the LESSB treasurer for funding. Any requests over $500 must be approved by the full LESSB Board.

POSSIBLE SIGNS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION

Physical Signs

  • Injury that is inconsistent with the explanation

  • Pain from touching

  • Dehydration and malnutrition

  • Inappropriate administration of medication

  • Soiled clothing and bed

  • Lack of necessities, such as food, water, or utilities

Signs of Financial Exploitation

  • Frequent, expensive gifts from vulnerable adult to caregiver

  • Unpaid bills, unusual activity in bank accounts

  • Caregiver’s name added to bank account

  • Frequent checks made out to “cash”

  • Documents (will, loan, etc.) signed when vulnerable adult seems incapable of understanding

  • Caregiver’s refusal to spend money on vulnerable adult

  • Signatures on documents that do not resemble vulnerable adult’s

Behavioral Signs

  • Fear, anxiety, agitation, withdrawal, or depression

  • Non-responsiveness, resignation, ambivalence

  • Contradictory statements, implausible stories

  • Hesitation to talk openly

  • Confusion and disorientation

Caregiver Signs

  • Preventing vulnerable adult from speaking to others

  • Anger or indifference toward vulnerable adult

  • History of substance abuse, criminal behavior, or family violence

  • Conflicting accounts of incidents

  • Talking of vulnerable adult as a burden

STATISTICS

There are over 200,000 elderly (over 65) or disabled adults in the Lubbock Region of APS. In 2022, There were almost 5,000 investigations for abuse completed by Lubbock Region APS staff with over 2,600 provided services of some sort. LESSB was involved with assisting with services or goods for over 500 of those clients.