Adult Protective Services reports surge in elder abuse cases

During a recent government meeting, officials from the Department of Adult and Aging Services provided a comprehensive update on the state of Adult Protective Services (APS), highlighting significant increases in reported cases of elder abuse and neglect. Pamela Powell, the Program Manager, and Sonia Frost, the Division Director, presented data indicating that from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, APS received 8,937 reports of abuse, marking an increase of 1,588 cases compared to the previous fiscal year.

Of the total reports, 2,563 were deemed not to meet the criteria for investigation, leaving 6,374 cases open for further inquiry. The breakdown of these investigations revealed that 36% were related to self-neglect, while financial abuse accounted for 28.2%. Other categories included neglect by others and psychological abuse, each representing 11.7% of the cases.

The presentation also provided demographic insights, revealing that 81.6% of clients identified as English-speaking, with 34.7% identifying as white and 21.9% as Black or African American. Notably, clients aged 60 and above constituted over 90% of those served, with individuals in their seventies making up the majority.

Efforts to improve data collection were acknowledged, with a decrease in unknown gender data from 8% to 6% over the past year. The APS program aims to continue enhancing its data management practices to better serve its clients.

The meeting underscored the critical role of APS in addressing elder abuse and the ongoing challenges faced by the program, particularly in urban areas like Oakland, which received the highest volume of reports.