Adult Protective Services
Our Mission: The Sandusky County Adult Protection Services Unit is committed to protecting adults at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation while recognizing the importance of their right to live independently. This is achieved through the provision of appropriate supportive services and referral to community resources.
Our Mandate: Sandusky County Adult Protection is mandated by the Ohio Revised Code to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect (including self-neglect) and exploitation on adults age 60 and over. Ongoing protective services will be offered if determined necessary by the Department. Furthermore, the agency also offers voluntary services to adults who are 45-59 years old.
In order to achieve our mission and fulfill our mandates, the Sandusky County Adult Protection Unit works very closely with members of the community, other social service and health care agencies, churches, law enforcement and the court system. Furthermore, each individual can play a role in helping us to protect the elderly members of our community. Whether you report concerns regarding an adult or offer assistance to an elderly person in need, as a community we can all assist in ensuring that their latter years are truly “golden.”
How to make a referral
If you suspect that an adult age 60 or older who is living in Sandusky County is at risk of abuse, neglect (including self-neglect), or exploitation, you should contact the Sandusky County Department of Job and Family Services, Adult Protection Unit at (419) 334-8708. The agency is available from 8-4:30, Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) to take calls concerning abused, neglected or exploited adults. You may also contact this number if you wish to inquire about the possibility of voluntary services for those adults who are 45-59 years old. Anonymous calls will be accepted, however, the agency prefers if you give your name and phone number so that you may be contacted again if more information is needed. Your name will not be released under any circumstances, unless you are needed to testify in a future court action.
At a minimum, the agency will need the following information about the adult in order to accept a report:
- Their name;
- Their address;
- A detailed description of the alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation (when, where, how long, etc.);
- The name, address and phone number of the alleged perpetrator, when applicable;
- Access the alleged perpetrator has to the adult;
- The phone number of the adult;
- The names of other people living in the home;
- How you became aware of the alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation;
- The ages (date of birth if possible) of those involved;
- Any knowledge you may have about past concerns with the adult;
- The functioning level of the adult and any concerns regarding substance abuse/violent behavior;
- Any other persons who may have knowledge of or witnessed the alleged abuse/neglect/exploitation;
- If the adult has a power of attorney or guardian;
- What support system(s) the adult has, if any.
The more information you can provide regarding your concerns, the better the agency will be able to assist the adult.
Mandated Reporters
Current Ohio law mandates that certain professionals report any elder abuse or suspicion of elder abuse to the county department of job and family services. These professionals are:
- any attorney, physician, osteopath, podiatrist, chiropractor, dentist, or psychologist
- any employee of a hospital as defined in ORC Section 3701.01
- any nurse licensed under ORC Chapter 4723
- any employee of an ambulatory health facility
- any employee of a home health agency
- any employee of an adult care facility as defined in ORC Section 3722.01
- any employee of a community alternative home as defined in ORC Section 3724.01
- any employee of a nursing home, rest home, or home for the aging, as defined in ORC Section 3721.01
- any senior service provider
- any peace officer, coroner, clergyman
- any employee of a community mental health facility
- any person engaged in social work or counseling
Anyone who reports elder abuse in good faith is immune from civil and criminal liability under Ohio law. Furthermore, an employer cannot punish an employee who files a report.
People often hear about elderly abuse in institutions, but only a small percent of elderly live in institutions. Most elderly persons live independently. This may be alone, with a spouse, or with relatives.
Most families don’t abandon, abuse, neglect, or take advantage of their elderly relatives. But studies do point to the family as the single greatest source of elder abuse.
Daughters, sons, grandchildren, or other relatives may be abusers. Physical abusers are usually male.
Psychological abusers are usually 50 or older. These relatives may have been looking forward to a time of personal freedom. They instead find themselves supplying almost constant personal and medical care to an elderly relative.
In many of the families where abuse happens, conflicts have existed for years. There may be a pattern of violence in the family. The parent may have treated the child badly earlier in life. These problems come to a head when family members move into the same home.
Violence in the family has more than one cause. However, a major cause is being unable to handle stress. The relative who takes care of an elderly person may have several sources of stress, such as:
- financial problems
- divorce
- unemployment
- unhappiness with a job
- being forced to give up a job to take care of an elderly parent or relative
- shouldering the care and costs of an elderly person at an age when the caretaker needs to plan for his or her own retirement
Stress often leads caretakers to misuse alcohol or drugs. Misuse of alcohol is often a cause of family violence. Drinking can lower a person’s self-control and increase the chance of aggressive and violent behavior.
Caretakers are often torn between love and hate, between a sense of duty and a wish to be free from responsibility. They may feel guilty for not welcoming elderly relatives into their home with open arms.
Old conflicts become worse. Caretakers may complain that elderly persons don’t:
- respect family needs for privacy
- consider family opinions
- recognize caretakers as adultsAs elderly persons become more dependent on caretakers, the chance of abuse increases. This abuse may be physical, emotional, or financial. It can include neglect or exploitation.
Poor health can accompany aging and places increasing burdens on the family. Many elderly can’t walk without the aid of another person or a walker. Some may need a wheelchair. Many need almost constant care and supervision and can’t be left alone. The family and the caretaker begin to resent the restrictions placed on its time.
Some age-related diseases, and some medicines may change personality. These changes can make the elderly person hard to care for. Some elderly may:
- try to control the family and the caretaker
- be demanding
- cry or scream
- withdraw
- refuse food
- refuse to take medication
- throw objects
- hit or slap
- give improper or little care to the elderly
- neglect them or keep them in isolation
- deny proper food or medical care
- verbally abuse them
- threaten them with nursing home placement
- physically restrain them
- hit or beat them
- misuse their money or property
- wish for their death to preserve an inheritance that will otherwise need to be spent on their care
The abused elderly often are not willing to tell anyone about their situation. They may resign themselves to the abuse due to:
- embarrassment
- pride
- fear
- love for their abuser
- a belief that living in an institution is the only choice
At times they do seek help. They may try to tell someone, but not be believed. Or they may suffer from a medical condition that prevents them from understanding or clearly explaining what is happening to them.
Other relatives, friends, or neighbors may suspect what is happening. Some may know what is happening. But they may be afraid to become involved. Or they may not know how to report the problem.
Ohio statistics show more than half of all reports of elder abuse involve elderly who abuse or neglect themselves. This often happens among elderly who live alone.
The elderly person may:
- live on an improper diet
- refuse or be unable to eat
- refuse to seek medical care
- refuse or be unable to follow the orders of doctors
- misuse alcohol or medicines
- wish to die, consciously or subconsciously
Elderly persons may keep living alone though it places them at risk. They may refuse or be unable to move to the home of a child or relative or to a nursing home. This presents a problem for family and friends. It is hard to decide where the rights of the elderly to choose their own life-styles end and the responsibility of family, friends, or community begins. Although adult children are not currently legally responsible for their parents, most feel they are morally.
The agency will determine whether or not to investigate the report. If it is investigated, initiation will begin within 24 hours of being determined an emergency or within three working days if it is a non-emergency. When the investigation is completed, the agency will decide whether or not the elderly person needs ongoing protective services.
These are services offered to the adult who is determined to have more serious ongoing needs that cannot be resolved during the investigation period. Depending on the elderly person’s individual needs, they may include such things as:
- counseling and casework services
- medical care
- mental health services
- home health care
- homemaker services
- help with food, clothing, or shelter
- money management
- housing-related services
- guardianship services
- placement services
- legal services
The adult protection worker will try to choose the services that will improve the situation while giving the elderly person the most freedom possible. Putting the elderly person in an institution will only occur if no other service can remedy the situation.
No. The agency must petition the probate court to get an order placing an elderly person into an institution. Again, this is used as a last resort when all else has failed.