October is Adult Abuse Awareness Month

Annual Report Numbers Paint Picture of Adult Abuse in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL-- In fiscal year 2006, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services program (APS) received an allegation of abuse or neglect of an older person or person with disability on the average of once every 30 minutes, according to newly released statistics.
“These numbers show increases and decreases in the different types of abuse,” said Barbara Kidder, director, OKDHS Adult Protective Services. “But more than that, they give us a picture of the challenges and hardships faced by thousands of our most vulnerable citizens.”

APS tracks six types of abuse and neglect – self neglect, caretaker neglect, caretaker abuse, exploitation, sexual abuse and verbal abuse. APS counts only referrals, multiple referrals on a single person are each counted individually.

“Self neglect is the most common and makes up about 61 percent of our referrals,” said Kidder. “It’s also the easiest to prevent. A key to prevention is paying attention to people in your community who are elderly or disabled and make sure they are staying connected with the world around them.”

APS received 10,718 referrals of self neglect in fiscal year 2006, a decrease of about 100 from the previous year. However, that size of a decrease doesn’t always translate into a drop in the number of victims of self neglect.

“We look at each referral and there are often several referrals on one individual,” said Kidder. “You also have to take into consideration that we’ve seen an 11 percent increase in self neglect cases during the last five years.”

Caretaker neglect referrals increased by eight percent from the previous fiscal year. Caretaker neglect accounts for about 15 percent of all referrals and is the second most common type of abuse and neglect.

“A lot of the caretaker neglect we see isn’t intentional,” said Kidder. “A lot is due to a lack of resources or understanding. Some people think because they’ve cared for a child they can care for an elderly person or a person with a disability and that’s not the case. Children become more independent as they get older, but the elderly become increasingly dependent as time goes by.”

Exploitation involves the improper use of a vulnerable adult’s financial, real or personal assets through undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception or false representation or pretense.

APS received more than 2,500 exploitation referrals, a 34 percent increase from five years ago.
“Exploitation is one of the most difficult types of abuse for APS staff to deal with because of the legal and financial complexity,” said Kidder. “We’ve made stopping exploitation before it starts a priority during the past two years by partnering with the Oklahoma Bankers Association and reaching out to law enforcement and district attorneys across the state.”

Sexual abuse referrals remained unchanged at 135 from the previous fiscal year. Since 1992, sexual abuse continually makes up about one percent of all referrals.

“Sexual abuse is the most under-reported form of abuse,” said Kidder.  “Most victims are unwilling to report it for fear they will be put in a nursing home or no one will believe them. It’s the most hideous and reprehensible type of abuse and it’s also one we may never understand the full scope of.”

Caretaker abuse involves inflicting physical pain and injury or mental anguish. Caretaker abuse can also involve unreasonable restraint or confinement.

APS received more than 1,200 referrals of caretaker abuse, a 10 percent decrease from the previous year.

“This is another decrease that may not mean a drop in the number of people being abused,” said Kidder. “This kind of abuse is normally hidden. The victims are often isolated and the perpetrators are usually very good at hiding the abuse.”

Verbal abuse involves not only words, but also sounds, gestures, actions and behaviors meant to humiliate or intimidate their victims.

APS received more than 100 referrals of verbal abuse, a 62 percent increase from the previous year.

“This is another type of abuse we’ve worked hard to educate our staff about,” said Kidder. “The OKDHS Developmental Disabilities Services Division has also worked with their vendors to help them better recognize verbal abuse. Verbal abuse is also a good warning sign and usually leads to physical abuse and neglect.”

According to Kidder, isolation is the key to all forms of abuse and neglect. By keeping our friends and neighbors who are elderly or disabled involved and engaged with their community, we can also keep them safe and help make their lives better and enrich our own in the process.

To report suspected abuse or neglect, contact the Adult Protective Abuse Hotline at 1-800-522-3511, your local OKDHS Human Services Center or your local law enforcement, or, click on http://www.OKDHS.org.

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