Adult Abuse
Date posted: 08/02/2007
Quick Data Links
Chart Directory:
|
|
|
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:
- Physical/Sexual Abuse
- Exploitation- the misuse and/or misappropriation of an individual's material (e.g. possessions, property) and/or monetary assets
- Neglect- the caregiver fails to meet the physical, social, and/or emotional needs of the individual
- Self-neglect- individuals fail to meet their own physical, psychological, and/or social needs
What this chart shows: Reports, Investigations, & Substantiated Reports of Adult Abuse in Larimer County, 1997-2006
Data Source: Adult Protective Services, Larimer County Department of Human Services
What these data tell us:
The number of reports to Adult Protective Services (APS) increased 55% from 1997 to 2006. The number of cases investigated increased by approximately 31%, while cases resulting in substantiated reports increased 82% in the same time period. Typically, as the number of cases that are reported increases, the investigations and substantiated reports will increase proportionately. However, in 2006 the total reports decreased 3% while substantiated reports increased by 18%.Recent decline in abuse reports received 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. While Poudre Valley Hospital (PVH) has always had the Crisis Assessment Center, 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.
APS staff reported that the number of cases that each case manager handles has increased. 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 in 2006.
What this chart shows: Adult Abuse Reports by Type of Abuse, 2002 - 2006
Data Source: Adult Protective Services, Larimer County Department of Human Services
What these data tell us:
The majority of Adult Protective Services reports involve self-neglect (71% of 2006 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.From 2002 to 2006, reports of sexual abuse declined from 6% (43) to 2% (15) of all reports. Neglect (by others) also decreased during the same period from 19% (135) to 9% (61). It should be noted that the sum of all types of abuse may be greater than 100%. Some reports involve two or more types of abuse and thus are counted twice.
What this chart shows: Number of Adult Abuse Referrals by Source, 2006
*Other includes: Alternative Care Facilities, Anonymous, Attorneys, Housing Authority, 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
What these data tell us:
Reports to Larimer County Adult Protective Services (APS) indicate that the most reports of abuse in 2006 came from families, hospitals, Foothills Gateway (a local agency that provides services to individuals with cognitive disabilities and their families) and skilled nursing facilities. Beginning in 1999, specific professionals (such as those in the medical field, law enforcement, human services, and elder care) were required to report suspected abuse to APS. Specifically, they must report the abuse for any elder who is unable to seek assistance for themselves. 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 by Age of Victim, 2006
Data Source: Adult Protective Services, Larimer County Department of Human Services
What these 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 remains around 60 to 62 years, with little change over time. 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. Presently half of the referrals received by Adult Protective Services involve individuals with mental health issues.What this chart shows: Larimer County Adult Abuse Reports by Living Arrangement of Victim, 2002 & 2003
Data Source: Adult Protective Services, Larimer County Department of Human Services
What these data tell us:
Elderly/disabled individuals who live alone are most likely to be the victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. When data regarding gender and age are considered, the most frequent reports are of elderly female self-neglect victims living alone.Due to a change in measuring victim statistics, Adult Protective Service is unable to report the most current numbers for this indicator.
Additional Information:
On Compass -
Outside Compass -
- Colorado Department of Human Services - Division of Aging and Adult Services
- Elder and Dependant Adult Abuse - Psychology Today article describes types of abuse and offers therapy direction
- Is This Elder Abuse? - an article from University of Illinois Extension
- Larimer County Adult Protective Services - Responds to reports of mistreatment or neglect of at risk adults
- National Center on Elder Abuse - listing of elder abuse coalitions by state
Standards or Targets: N/A
Adult Abuse in Larimer County, 1997-2006
|
Reports Received |
Cases Investigated |
Substantiated Reports |
Larimer County Adult Population |
Rate of Reports Received |
Rate of Cases Investigated |
Rate of Substantiated Reports |
|
|
1997 |
431 |
276 |
140 |
176,463 |
2.4 |
1.6 |
0.8 |
|
1998 |
382 |
286 |
111 |
181,602 |
2.1 |
1.6 |
0.6 |
|
1999 |
418 |
284 |
134 |
187,376 |
2.2 |
1.5 |
0.7 |
|
2000 |
540 |
377 |
150 |
193,090 |
2.8 |
2.0 |
0.8 |
|
2001 |
615 |
417 |
279 |
197,998 |
3.1 |
2.1 |
1.4 |
|
2002 |
709 |
433 |
221 |
201,831 |
3.5 |
2.1 |
1.1 |
|
2003 |
650 |
489 |
384 |
203,831 |
3.2 |
2.4 |
1.9 |
|
2004 |
646 |
382 |
203 |
207,749 |
3.1 |
1.8 |
1.0 |
|
2005 |
689 |
434 |
216 |
210,691 |
3.3 |
2.1 |
1.0 |
|
2006 |
668 |
361 |
255 |
213,527 |
3.1 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
*Population figures from Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Percentage of Adult Abuse Reports by Type of Abuse, 2002-2006
|
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
||||||
|
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
|
Physical Abuse |
78 |
11% |
65 |
10% |
85 |
12% |
85 |
12% |
57 |
8% |
|
Sexual Abuse |
43 |
6% |
20 |
4% |
14 |
2% |
14 |
2% |
15 |
2% |
|
Neglect (by others) |
135 |
19% |
98 |
16% |
91 |
13% |
91 |
13% |
61 |
9% |
|
Exploitation |
99 |
14% |
98 |
10% |
106 |
15% |
106 |
15% |
85 |
12% |
|
Self Neglect |
439 |
62% |
429 |
69% |
436 |
63% |
436 |
63% |
480 |
71% |
|
Other |
28 |
4% |
0 |
6% |
3 |
0% |
3 |
0% |
5 |
0.7% |
Number of Adult Abuse Reports by Referral
|
2006 |
|
|
Larimer Center for Mental Health |
2 |
|
Schools |
3 |
|
Anonymous |
5 |
|
Attorneys |
8 |
|
Alternative Care Facilities |
8 |
|
Housing Authority |
9 |
|
Neighbors |
19 |
|
Landlords |
21 |
|
Physicians |
24 |
|
Friends |
25 |
|
Options for Long Term Care |
28 |
|
Home Health Agencies |
29 |
|
Department of Human Services |
37 |
|
Self Referral |
46 |
|
Law Enforcement |
47 |
|
Foothills Gateway |
53 |
|
Skilled Nursing Facilities |
53 |
|
Other |
59 |
|
Hospitals |
82 |
|
Family |
110 |
Percentage of Adult Abuse Reports by Age
|
2006 |
||
|
# |
% |
|
|
Under 60 years old |
302 |
45% |
|
Over 60 years old |
366 |
55% |
Percentage of Adult Abuse Reports by Living Arrangement of Victim
|
2002 |
2003 |
|
|
Living Alone |
52% |
57% |
|
Living with Spouse |
10% |
9% |
|
Living with Relatives |
8% |
10% |
|
Homeless |
12% |
18% |
|
Nursing Home |
2% |
3% |
|
Licensed Boarding Home |
2% |
2% |