Outcomes of APS Investigations
If there is a case for abuse, the criminal justice system will follow its course of referral to the district attorney for the start of a case through the criminal system. Of course arresting the caregiver of someone who has physical and mental health issues is fraught with its own concerns: who will care for the person in the meantime? Is there somewhere the elderly person can go while the situation is being resolved? How will the elderly person respond to the removal of the caregiver given their dependence on that person? If APS is coming in because of self-neglect on the part of the elderly person, they will try to keep the person in his or her home living independently for as long as possible. This can include helping the person find services to help him or her.
Victims’ advocates, domestic violence services, social services, and other agencies and organizations can be notified to help the victim. APS can also link victims of abuse to other services in the community, such as mental health counselors, and to the courts for a restraining order if needed (National Adult Protective Services, n.d.). If the abuse took place in a nursing home, other policies also come into play, including an investigation of the home and its overarching organization, its policies, and its history of any prior issues. If there are other citations, the location could be closed, and the residents moved to other facilities. Unfortunately, there are not enough nursing homes in the United States, and many have waiting lists.
There is an increasing demand for space in nursing homes as the elderly population increases, and high-quality homes are expensive. High turnover and understaffing in nursing homes create additional stress, which can lead to increased abuse and neglect. Image: Nursing care. Authored by: sasint. Source: https://pixabay.com/en/asia-assistance-care-for-caretaker-1807539/. License: CC-0
Even if nothing happens beyond the initial investigation, including if the elderly person does not want to press charges, things can be done to help ensure the person is safe. According to Markarian (2012), the following actions help the elderly person:
• Police can put the person on a “high propensity” list and stop by their house on a regular basis.
• CPS can make appropriate referrals to social service agencies and ensure that follow up can happen so that victims don’t fall through system cracks.
• Social workers can work with hospital staff on a safe “discharge plan” for the victim.
• Police can advise local domestic violence agencies and advocates as well as APS for monitoring.
• Advocates and APS can create a personal safety net that includes doctors, in- home healthcare providers, neighbors, senior centers, guardianship and other courts, and anyone who would visit the home, like meals-on-wheels, and let them know to alert authorities if there are any issues.
Conclusion
Both child and elder abuse are serious issues impacting vulnerable populations who have less power and access to help than other groups of people. This vulnerability makes their abuse harder to detect and less likely to be reported unless it is serious and noticeable to others. The increased awareness and protections that have been put in place to protect these two groups will hopefully decrease the amount of this type of victimization.