Adult Abuse Awareness
Overview
Adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation are under- reported, yet can have severe or even deadly consequences. Older victims are four times more likely to be admitted to a nursing home, and have a risk of dying three times that of non-abused seniors. Adult Protective Services is the last resort for victims of elder abuse and younger adults with severe disabilities, serving as the “safety net for the safety net.”
Facts
- New Mexico Adult Protective Services received 10,194 reports and investigated 5,824 cases of suspected adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation in FY 2012. Sixty three percent (63%) of victims were over the age of 60 and 24% were age 80 or older.
- Adult abuse may be perpetrated by family members, caregivers, trusted advisers or strangers, and occurs primarily in persons’ own homes as opposed to nursing homes. Ninety seven percent (97%) of seniors live at home.
- Victims of financial exploitation have a mortality rate that is three times higher than non-victims, according to two national studies. In New Mexico, most victims of exploitation are 60 or older; most perpetrators are under 60, with family members comprising 43% of substantiated perpetrators.
- National estimates indicate 7.6% of seniors report being abused, neglected, or exploited within the past 12 months; a rate equal to that of coronary heart disease in the United States.
- In New Mexico last year, the most frequently reported and substantiated problem was self-neglect (33.4%) and caregiver neglect (25.2%), followed by exploitation (22.3%) and abuse (19.1%). Older adults and adults with disabilities, who cannot manage their own affairs, are highly vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
- Duty to Report: New Mexico’s Adult Protective Services Act mandates that anyone who suspects an adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited must report it. In 2012, only 6% of reports were made by adult victims themselves. The other 94% were referred by concerned professionals, facilities, a family member, or the general public.
Trends and Impacts
- Adult Protective Services experienced a steady increase in reports of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation between 2008 and 2012, with 18% more referrals in FY12 than in FY08.
- Financial exploitation cases grew from 16.2% of investigations to 22.3% of investigations in that same period.
- The number of investigations requiring a face-to-face contact with the alleged victim within 24 hours or less was 11.7% for FY12. Cases requiring a response within 24 hours generally involve situations in which a vulnerable adult’s immediate safety is in question.
- Over 1,400 adults without the capacity to protect themselves received a service following an APS investigation. In some cases an emergency placement or guardianship was needed, in most cases, in home services or adult day services were provided to prevent continued abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Contractors providing home care/homemaker services have observed that APS referred cases have increased in severity and complexity, often impacted by both behavioral health and medical issues.
- APS funding for in-home and adult day services through Title XX Social Service Block Grant Funds has remained flat, while general fund support is less than it was prior to the economic downturn. As a result, APS clients are receiving fewer hours of essential home care and adult day services than in previous years.
Anticipated Needs
- As the population ages, the incidence of abuse, neglect, and exploitation will increase; as awareness of the problem increases, more reports will be made to APS.
- Adult Protective Services will need funding to provide essential short-term home and community based services to prevent continued abuse and neglect of an increasing number of clients, particularly those without family or other support networks.
- Increased longevity and continuing issues such as lack of long term care service options, transportation, hunger, poor nutrition, inadequate housing, and poverty will exacerbate the problems of isolation and neglect.
ALTSD’s Role
- Broad education of the public is necessary to ensure reporting of any suspected adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation. APS is actively involved in outreach and training to law enforcement, health and social service providers, universities, churches, senior centers, and the general public.
- Fostering of collaboration among different types of service providers and public and private entities will be essential. APS continues to establish multidisciplinary teams in communities throughout the state.
- Expand APS staffing levels and services to respond to increased needs and severity and complexity of cases, and to address service needs of both elder victims and younger adults with disabilities, including veterans.
Contact Information
To report suspected adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation, call: Adult Protective Services.
- 866-654-3219 Toll Free Hotline