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Elder Abuse
Guardianship Services
Ombudsman Program
Elder Abuse is a Serious Problem
The
National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
reported a 150% increase in cases of
reported elder abuse nationwide between 1986
and 1996. However, the center believes that
this continues to be a largely hidden and
under-reported problem.
The
National Elder Abuse Incidence Study
released in September 1998 estimates that at
least 500,000 older persons in domestic
settings were abused and/or neglected, or
experienced self neglect during 1996,
and that for every reported incident of
elder abuse, neglect or self neglect,
approximately five go unreported.
Abuse and Older People:
What is it?
The three basic categories of elder
abuse:
Domestic abuse refers to maltreatment
of an older person residing in his/her own
home or the home of a caregiver.
Institutional abuse refers to the
maltreatment of an older person residing in
a residential facility, such as a nursing
home, retirement center, foster home, or
board and care home.
Self-neglect refers to the conduct of
an older person living alone which threatens
his/her own health or safety.
The four most common types of elder
abuse:
Physical abuse - the infliction of
physical pain or injury, e.g., slapping,
bruising, sexually molesting, restraining.
Psychological abuse - the infliction
of mental anguish, e.g., humiliating,
intimidating, threatening.
Financial abuse - the improper or
illegal use of the resources of an older
person, without his/her consent, for someone
else's benefit.
Neglect - failure to fulfill a
caretaking obligation to provide goods or
services, e.g., abandonment, denial of food
or health-related services.
Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect
To report suspected abuse or neglect of an
older person in Tarrant County, call the
Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory
Services at 817-735-9381. To report
suspected abuse or neglect of an older
person anywhere in Texas, call
1-800-252-5400.
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Guardianship Services:
In Tarrant County, 5,000 older adults
without a living relative or spouse live in
nursing homes, assisted living facilities or
personal care homes. For some of these
individuals, a legal guardian is necessary
in order protect their well-being and
safety. Legal guardians are
court-appointed individuals who assist
adults who can no longer cope with the
demands of managing personal and business
affairs.
The Area Agency on Aging provides funding to
Guardianship Services Inc., which recruits,
trains and supports volunteers who serve as
guardians of a person, a person’s estate, or
both. Volunteers must be able to obtain a
bond, be willing to undergo a background
check, and meet probate court requirements
concerning character and education.
Volunteer guardians affiliated with
Guardianship Services receive more than 10 hours
of training before they are appointed, and
monthly in-service sessions. All
are asked to submit monthly reports to
program staff and be willing to serve at
least one year. Volunteers also make yearly
reports to the probate court and are
monitored at least annually by Guardianship
Services staff. More than 1,000 clients have
had volunteer guardians since the program
began in 1985.
Guardianship is an extreme measure that
involves removing rights. It should be used
only when there are no other alternatives.
When adults become incapacitated by disease
or other causes, they become vulnerable to
abuse, neglect or exploitation, and guardianship literally can be a lifesaver.
To be eligible for a guardian, an individual
must meet probate court requirements and be
an adult living in Tarrant County who has no
family member suitable to serve as a
guardian. Attorneys, health care provides
and other interested parties make referrals
to the probate courts. After investigation
by probate court personnel or appointees,
the client is referred to Guardianship
Services Inc.
For more information about Guardianship
Services Inc. or to volunteer, call
817-921-0680.
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Ombudsman Program:
In Tarrant County, nearly 12,000 older
residents live in a nursing home, skilled
nursing unit or some other type of
residential facility.
We provide funding to the Mental Health
Association of
Tarrant County for the Long Term Care
Ombudsman Program,
which assists these residents.
An ombudsman is a specially-trained and
certified staff member or volunteer who
advocates for quality care in Texas nursing
facilities. Ombudsmen provide information to
older adults and their families about rights
and procedures and help identify additional
resources in
or out of care facilities. They also
identify, investigate and resolve complaints
by, or on behalf of, nursing facility
residents.
Older adults and their families should try
to resolve problems and differences with the
residential facility staff whenever
possible. In Tarrant County, when this is
not possible or when the resident or family
is unsure, a local ombudsman should be
called at 817-335-5405.
The ombudsman volunteer or regional staff
ombudsman will assess the concerns and
recommend possible courses of action. Often
the ombudsman can resolve the problem
without involving other groups or agencies.
Sometimes the resident council or family
support group is involved in the resolution.
When the ombudsman can’t resolve the
problem, or when it involves serious abuse
or neglect, the complaint is referred to the
Texas Department of Human Services or other
appropriate agency. In all situations the
complaint is handled confidentially, and
information is not released without approval
of the resident or legal guardian.
The Ombudsman Program is also a good source
of information about selecting a long-term
care facility, eligibility criteria,
residents’ rights and other services for the
elderly.
For more information about the Ombudsman
Program or to volunteer, call 817-335-5405.
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