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Division of Aging and DHHS Divisions Eldercare Locator
Age with Dignity East Arkansas Western Arkansas
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This
column appears in the April 2007 edition of Aging Arkansas,
Thanks to Governor Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Legislature, the State is taking a giant forward in protecting adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Abuse, neglect and exploitation of older Americans is a national problem with as many as 5,000,000 victims a year. Representatives Sandra Prater and Horace Hardwick, and Senator Mary Ann Salmon sponsored SB266 that gives adult protective service workers more tools to protect vulnerable citizens. Representative Jim Medley worked to add nurses to the staff of the State adult protective service program. The foundation for these changes began in 2006. In conjunction with the Joint Public Health Committee of the Arkansas Legislature, an ad hoc Task Force was established to review all aspects of Adult Protective Services (APS). The Task Force members worked diligently to examine current processes and protocols, reviewed the current laws on Adult Maltreatment, and reviewed the Adult Protective Services staff structure and how it compared to other states. After 5 months of full task force meetings and work group meetings, the APS Task Force developed the following recommendation — all of which are being implemented thanks to the work of the Task Force, Governor Beebe, AR DHHS Director John Selig and members of the 86th General Assembly: Senate Bill 266 amended the Adult and Long-Term Care Facility Resident Maltreatment Act and Adult Maltreatment Custody Act to give Adult Protective Services (APS) greater authority to act. Formerly the law required that a case referred to APS “poses an imminent risk of death or serious bodily harm.” SB266 changed that to “poses a danger to himself or herself.” Other revisions give increased powers for APS workers to evaluate individuals for emergency medical/psychological assessments. Seven new groups mandatory reporters were added. A comprehensive assessment tool has been created. The new instrument will more thoroughly document the condition of the individual, and will also allow the worker to establish a rapport with the victim. Improved after hours, weekend and holiday coverage has begun and will improve further with additional staff. Currently there is only one worker on call for after hours, nights and weekends to cover the entire state. With the new staffing discussed below, eight workers with support from Area Agencies on Aging and the Division of Health Home Health Program will be available. The number of APS workers will increase from 28 to 70. Currently there are only 20 field workers to cover Arkansas’ 75 counties. Current staff does not have adequate time to make multiple visits to alleged victims homes, talk to knowledgeable parties, track down relatives, work with local social service agencies and perform other tasks necessary to properly investigate and resolve cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Compared to other states Arkansas APS staffing is anemic. 42 new workers will be added beginning with the new state fiscal year. Increased Community Education to protect vulnerable citizens. There are literally hundreds of independent law enforcement authorities, Sheriffs, City Police Departments and in some cases Constables that should inter act with APS. Additionally, there are other partners in the community who provide services or have relationships with aging citizens. All these entities, mandatory reporters and the public need to be aware of APS — its ability to protect citizens and its limitations to protect individual freedoms. The additional staff will allow APS to work more closely with these groups and the general public. The Task Force Members are to be commended for their dedication and work. The Task Force Members were:
Thank you to all who worked to stop abuse, neglect and exploitation. Division of Aging and Adult Services |
