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Index: Crime & Safety / Subcategory: Crime

Adult Abuse

Date updated: 02/20/2012

Larimer County Adult Protective Services responds to reports of mistreatment or neglect of at-risk adults who are unable to advocate for themselves, due to age or disability. Information on the number of substantiated reports is available only for recent years, as it is not reported to the State and therefore not tracked automatically.

Types of abuse include:

What this chart shows: Reports, Investigations, & Substantiated Reports of Adult Abuse in Larimer County, 2002 - 2011

Reports, Investigations, & Substantiated Reports of Adult Abuse in Larimer County, 2002 - 2011

Data Source: Adult Protective Services, Larimer County Department of Human Services (data not available online)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

The number of reports to Adult Protective Services (APS) increased more than 15% from 2002 to 2011. The number of cases investigated has fluctuated between a low of 361 in 2006 to a high of 489 in 2003. During this same time period, cases resulting in substantiated reports peaked in 2003 at 384. Typically, as the number of reported cases increases, the investigations and substantiated reports increase proportionately.

The decline in abuse reports received between 2005 and 2007 is due in part to several local agencies completing initial abuse report investigations. Foothills Gateway, a local agency that provides services to individuals with cognitive disabilities and their families, does initial investigations of abuse reports received at their location. Poudre Valley Hospital (PVH) has always had the Crisis Assessment Center, but in 2005, PVH moved the Center to a more centralized location. The Center is now more easily accessible for those in need of emergency abuse assessment.

Adult Protective Services caseloads vary between 35 and 40 cases per case manager. Consequently, APS must screen each report very closely for validity and specific types of abuse. Due to preliminary investigations by local agencies and lower rates of reports accepted by APS, there was a higher incidence of substantiated reports beginning in 2006 and continuing throughout 2011.

The average age of adult abuse cases has steadily risen from 62 to 2006 to 64 in 2011 as more elderly residents opt to stay in their own homes. This could help explain the recent rise in reported cases.

What this chart shows: Adult Abuse Reports in Larimer County by Type of Abuse, 2011

Adult Abuse Reports in Larimer County by Type of Abuse, 2011

Data Source: Adult Protective Services, Larimer County Department of Human Services (data not available online)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

The majority of Adult Protective Services reports involve self-neglect (69% of 2011 reports). Self-neglecting individuals lose the ability to manage any or all of the following: personal finances, medication, house cleaning, transportation, accessing food, medical needs and meeting basic needs.

What this chart shows: Number of Adult Abuse Referrals in Larimer County by Source, 2011

Number of Adult Abuse Referrals in Larimer County by Source, 2011

*Other includes: Alternative Care Facilities, Anonymous, Attorneys, Housing Authorities, Larimer Center for Mental Health, Schools and other community agencies not denoted on the chart.

Data Source: Adult Protective Services, Larimer County Department of Human Services (data not available online)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Reports to Larimer County Adult Protective Services (APS) indicate that most reports of abuse in 2011 came from hospitals, families, and Foothills Gateway. Once a report is made to APS, it is assessed by risk and resolved. APS can also provide individual and family counseling and referrals for other family services to assist with protective issues.

What this chart shows: Percentage of Adult Abuse Reports in Larimer County by Age of Victim, 2011

Percentage of Adult Abuse Reports in Larimer County by Age of Victim, 2011

Data Source: Adult Protective Services, Larimer County Department of Human Services (data not available online)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Reports to Adult Protective Services (APS) indicate that adult victims over the age of 60 comprise the majority of reported cases of adult abuse. The average age of adult abuse victims is 64 years of age, a slight increase over previous years. Adult Protection staff says referrals involving people with substance abuse and mental heath issues have increased in recent years. Referral sources such as law enforcement, mental health agencies, family members, and especially the general public, are increasingly reporting young adults with these problems to APS. Approximately 25% of the referrals received by Adult Protective Services involve individuals with mental health issues.

Additional Information:

Related Information on COMPASS -

Other Resources -

Standards or Targets: N/A

Data Tables:

Adult Abuse in Larimer County

Reports Received

Cases Investigated

Substantiated Reports

Larimer County Adult Population*

Rate of Reports Received

Rate of Cases Investigated

Rate of Substantiated Reports

2002

709

433

221

204,016

3.5

2.1

1.1

2003

650

489

384

206,350

3.1

2.4

1.9

2004

646

382

203

211,040

3.1

1.8

1.0

2005

689

434

216

213,867

3.2

2.0

1.0

2006

668

361

255

218,604

3.1

1.7

1.2

2007

658

373

281

223,668

2.9

1.7

1.3

2008

704

425

286

228,751

3.1

1.9

1.3

2009

687

363

280

233,453

2.9

1.6

1.2

2010

839

416

311

236,549

3.5

1.8

1.3

2011

817

428

304

239,338

3.4

1.8

1.3

*Population figures from Colorado Department of Local Affairs


See chart

Adult Abuse Reports by Type of Abuse in Larimer County

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Physical Abuse

8% 8% 9% 7% 9% 6%

Sexual Abuse

2% 2% 2% 1% 2% 2%

Neglect
(by others)

9% 9% 9% 10% 7% 20%

Exploitation

12% 11% 14% 16% 13% 15%

Self Neglect

71% 70% 81% 78% 69% 69%

Other

0.7% 0% 0% 1% 0.3% 0%

See chart

Number of Adult Abuse Reports by Referral

2011

Number

Landlords

17

Options for Long Term Care

19

Department of Human Services

25

Physicians

33

Neighbors

35

Self Referral

38

Friends

40

Law Enforcement

56

Skilled Nursing Facilities

63

Home Health Agencies

65

Other*

66

Foothills Gateway

76

Family

112

Hospitals

118

See chart

Percentage of Adult Abuse Reports by Age

2011

#

%

Under 60 years old

279 36%

Over 60 years old

498 64%

See chart