Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Adult Protective Services Ombudsman topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Nevada sees rising adult-protective caseloads and ombudsman demand amid staffing shortages
Summary
The Aging and Disability Services Division projected 5% caseload growth for Adult Protective Services and 16% growth for long-term care ombudsman services; the division reported elevated vacancy rates and described recruitment and retention efforts.
Officials from Nevada’s Aging and Disability Services Division told the Joint Subcommittee on Human Services they expect modest caseload growth for Adult Protective Services (APS) and more substantial increases for the long-term care ombudsman program, and outlined recruitment and retention steps as vacancies constrain capacity.
Dina Schmidt and Carrie Embree of ADSD said APS caseloads are expected to grow about 5% in the upcoming biennium, while long-term care ombudsman work is projected to grow roughly 16%. Schmidt said APS responds to allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation and emphasized that ombudsmen often learn of issues when visiting long-term-care facilities and educating residents.
When asked about vacancies and capacity, Schmidt said the APS vacancy rate has been improving but remains a challenge; she told the committee the overall vacancy rate for APS was 30 and that social worker vacancies represent 37% of that breakdown while adult-rights specialist vacancies are 17% (figures provided in testimony). Carrie Embree said that recruitment outreach — including partnerships with the University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada, Las Vegas, practicum placements and a social-work academy for new staff — has helped lower the vacancy rate for APS by roughly 15% since July.
Legislators asked about caseload-per-worker ratios. Embree said current APS ratios are about 1 to 54 for active cases and described supervisory and quality-assurance staffing determined by caseload thresholds. Deputy Administrator Ricky Robb said the division shifts duties internally when vacancies require it and that they rarely place staff on layoff lists when positions are eliminated; positions slated for elimination were described by staff as ones that have been vacant for more than two years.
ADSD told the committee it uses a mix of recruitment and retention strategies — university outreach, job fairs, onboarding and training academies — and that filling vacancies remains a priority to prevent delays in investigations and services. No formal action or vote was taken at the hearing.
