How can APS help an aging adult?
Adult Protective Services agencies are available in all 50 states. And they can help protect an aging parent (or other older adults and adults with disabilities) who you think might be neglected, exploited or abused.
There is a misconception that APS is like Child Protective Services where a caseworker would put an aging parent in a nursing home. That is not the case. APS is a social services program that investigates allegations of physical abuse, emotional/verbal abuse, physical neglect, medical neglect and financial exploitation. They look at the environment, the financial status, medical status and social status. When they confirm any allegations, APS helps to provide services for the older adult.
Stephanie McCoy is with Adult Protective Services in Texas. She talks with Kim and Mike Barnes from Parenting Aging Parents about what kinds of allegations to report, how to report them, and how important it is to report suspected abuse because it’s better to be safe than sorry.