Adult Abuse
Date posted: 09/29/2009
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, 1999 - 2008
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 68% from 1999 to 2008. The number of cases investigated increased by approximately 50%, while cases resulting in substantiated reports increased 113% in the same time period. 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.
APS staff reported that the number of cases that each case manager handles has increased to approximately 39 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 2008.
The average age of adult abuse cases has risen recently from 60 to 64 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 by Type of Abuse, 2004 - 2008
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 (81% of 2008 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 2004 to 2008, reports of physical abuse declined from 12% (85) to 10% (69) of all reports. Neglect (by others) also decreased during the same period from 13% (91) to 9% (60). Some reports involve two or more types of abuse and thus are counted twice, so the sum of all types of abuse may be greater than 100%.
What this chart shows: Number of Adult Abuse Referrals by Source, 2008
*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
What these data tell us:
Reports to Larimer County Adult Protective Services (APS) indicate that most reports of abuse in 2008 came from families, hospitals, and other. 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, 2008
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 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 half of the referrals received by Adult Protective Services involve individuals with mental health issues.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
- Larimer County Adult Protective Services - Responds to reports of mistreatment or neglect of at risk adults
Standards or Targets: N/A
Adult Abuse in Larimer County, 1999-2008
|
Reports Received |
Cases Investigated |
Substantiated Reports |
Larimer County Adult Population* |
Rate of Reports Received |
Rate of Cases Investigated |
Rate of Substantiated Reports |
|
|
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 |
199,658 |
3.1 |
2.1 |
1.4 |
|
2002 |
709 |
433 |
221 |
204,412 |
3.5 |
2.1 |
1.1 |
|
2003 |
650 |
489 |
384 |
206,890 |
3.1 |
2.4 |
1.9 |
|
2004 |
646 |
382 |
203 |
211,400 |
3.1 |
1.8 |
1.0 |
|
2005 |
689 |
434 |
216 |
214,399 |
3.2 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
|
2006 |
668 |
361 |
255 |
219,367 |
3.0 |
1.6 |
1.2 |
|
2007 |
658 |
373 |
281 |
224,839 |
2.9 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
|
2008 |
704 |
425 |
286 |
230,312 |
3.1 |
1.8 |
1.2 |
*Population figures from Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Percentage of Adult Abuse Reports by Type of Abuse, 2004-2008
|
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
||||||
|
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
|
Physical Abuse |
85 | 12% | 85 | 12% | 57 | 8% | 54 | 8% | 69 | 10% |
|
Sexual Abuse |
14 | 2% | 14 | 2% | 15 | 2% | 14 | 2% | 11 | 2% |
|
Neglect |
91 | 13% | 91 | 13% | 61 | 9% | 57 | 9% | 60 | 9% |
|
Exploitation |
106 | 15% | 106 | 15% | 85 | 12% | 73 | 11% | 102 | 14% |
|
Self Neglect |
436 | 63% | 436 | 63% | 480 | 71% | 459 | 70% | 570 | 81% |
|
Other |
3 | 0% | 3 | 0% | 5 | 0.7% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
Number of Adult Abuse Reports by Referral
|
2008 |
Number |
|
Options for Long Term Care |
8 |
|
Neighbors |
14 |
|
Friends |
20 |
|
Landlords |
22 |
|
Department of Human Services |
23 |
|
Physicians |
29 |
|
Law Enforcement |
37 |
|
Self Referral |
39 |
|
Foothills Gateway |
47 |
|
Home Health Agencies |
53 |
|
Skilled Nursing Facilities |
54 |
|
Family |
108 |
|
Hospitals |
118 |
|
Other |
132 |
Percentage of Adult Abuse Reports by Age
|
2008 |
||
|
# |
% |
|
|
Under 60 years old |
254 | 36% |
|
Over 60 years old |
450 | 64% |