CHFS and Its Partners Are Working to Keep Older Residents Safe
Three Community Groups Awarded for Elder Abuse Prevention Efforts
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 14, 2018) –
In recognition of World Elder
Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on Friday, June 15, the Kentucky Adult Protective
Services (APS) Branch asks all Kentuckians to help guard against elder abuse. APS,
within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), is the state agency
responsible for investigating and providing protective services to victims of
abuse, neglect or exploitation.
APS provides
administrative support for the state’s network of 22 Local Coordinating
Councils on Elder Abuse (LCCEAs), which covers 92 of the state’s 120 counties.
The councils provide focused education and outreach to their communities to
protect the elder population from abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
“The work of these
councils shows that we can all be a part of establishing well-being for the
older members of our communities,” said APS Branch Manager Steve Fisher. “Through
partnership with our local offices and other agencies, the LCEEAs are making
elder abuse prevention a priority across their multi-county areas. We thank
them for their programming which has helped save lives.”
Kentucky’s network
involves local law enforcement, county officials, advocates, nursing homes,
local businesses, social service agencies and individuals. They share a common
goal of ending abuse, neglect and exploitation of the elderly in their
communities by offering specific advocacy, outreach and prevention strategies.
At a recent
conference focusing on elder abuse prevention, APS recognized three LCCEAs for
their work to stop elder abuse: Madison County Council for Elder Maltreatment Prevention, Kentucky River Council Against
Maltreatment of Elders (CAME) and Big Sandy Elder Abuse Council. Each
organization received Public Awareness
Initiative awards of $400 for
showing a commitment to elder abuse prevention through public outreach during
the past 12 months.
The Madison council
represents Madison County. CAME is in Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher,
Owsley, Perry and Wolfe counties. The Big Sandy council operates in Floyd,
Johnson, Martin, Magoffin and Pike counties
Kentucky received more than 28,000 calls to report abuse,
neglect and exploitation of people age 60 and older during state fiscal year
2017. If you believe an elderly person
is being abused, neglected or exploited, call 1-877-KYSAFE1 (1-877-597- 2331),
the state’s abuse hotline. If you believe the individual is at imminent risk,
immediately call 911 or local law enforcement.
Learn to recognize
the following signs of neglect and abuse:
Neglect
·
Obvious
malnutrition, dehydration
·
Dirty
and uncombed hair; dirty and torn or climate-inappropriate clothes; or
offensive body odor
·
Hoarding
·
Lack
of glasses, dentures or hearing aid, or lack of medical care
·
Bedsores
·
Recent
suffering or loss of spouse, family members or close friends Physical Abuse
·
Frequent
injuries such as bruises, burns, broken bones; explanation of the injury seems
unrealistic
·
Multiple
bruises in various stages of healing, particularly bruises on inner arms or
thighs
·
Experiences
pain when touched
·
Loss
of bowel and bladder control
·
Never
leaves the house or allows visitors
·
Never
mentions family or friends
Sexual Abuse
·
Evidence
of sexually transmitted disease
·
Irritation
or injuries to the mouth, genitals or anus
·
Upset
when changed or bathed
·
Fearful
of a particular person
·
Loss
of bowel and bladder control
Emotional/Psychological Abuse
·
Isolated
from family and friends
·
Sudden
dramatic change in behavior, appearing withdrawn, depressed, hesitant to talk
openly
·
Caregiver
won’t let victim speak for herself or himself
·
Caregiver
scolds, insults, threatens victim
·
Trembling,
clinging
Financial Abuse
·
Unusual
activity in bank account; sudden large withdrawals, expenditures that are not
consistent with past financial history
·
Use
of automated teller machines (ATM) when the person has no history of using ATMs
or cannot walk
·
A
recent will, when the person seems incapable of writing a will
·
Rights
signed away on legal papers without understanding what the papers mean
·
Unpaid
bills, such as house payment, rent, taxes or utilities
Purple is the awareness color
for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Everyone is encouraged to wear purple
clothing or a purple ribbon on Friday and start conversations about prevention.
Reporting suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation is the
law in Kentucky. It is confidential. The toll-free reporting hotline is
1-877-KYSAFE1 (1-877-597-2331). Get more information about LCCEAs and
recognizing the signs of elder abuse online at https://chfs.ky.gov/.
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The Cabinet for Health and Family Services is home to most
of the state's human services and healthcare programs, including the Department
for Medicaid Services, the Department for Community Based Services the
Department for Public Health, the Department for Aging and Independent Living
and the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual
Disabilities. CHFS is one of the largest agencies in state government, with
nearly 8,000 full- and part-time employees located across the Commonwealth
focused on improving the lives and health of Kentuckians.
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