Survey of State Adults Protective Services (APS) Programs

U.S. Government Accountability Office

  Introduction The U.S. Congress has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study elder abuse in the United States. GAO is a congressional agency that reviews federal programs and policy. Its research informs congressional debate on a broad range of national issues.

As part of this study, we are conducting a survey of state Adult Protective Services (APS) agencies to learn about the organization and funding of these services in each state, the population served, the types of services provided, and the challenges faced in identifying, investigating, and resolving elder abuse cases.

We are sending this questionnaire to each state in order to obtain this information. We may also follow-up with a small number of states to obtain more detailed information about the data they provide on their number of cases and funding. When necessary, please consult with your program staff to ensure that responses to questions are as accurate as possible.

Your participation in this survey is voluntary, but vital. We can only provide the Congress with complete information to inform national elder abuse policy decisions if all states participate. To assist us, we ask that you complete this survey in the next two weeks. Thank you for taking the time to complete the questionnaire.
 
(View responses)
 

Background

1.  Who is the primary person responsible for completing this questionnaire?
 
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  Name:
 
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  State:
 
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  Title:
 
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  Phone:
 
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  Email:
 
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  Please enter any additional contact information below:
(View responses)
 

Administration and Organization of Adult Protective Services In Your State

2.  In your state, are adult protective services programs administered by the state or supervised by the state and administered locally?
(Check one.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
(View responses)
 
  Other:
(View responses)
 
3.  Are adult protective services the responsibility of your state's unit on aging?
(Check one.)
1.
2.
3.
(View responses)
 
4.  In your state, are any adult protective services programs contracted out to nongovernmental entities?
(Check one.)
1.
2.
3.
(View responses)
 
5.  In your state, do each of the entities listed below directly provide adult protective services? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Yes
No
Don't know
  5a. One or more Area Agencies on Aging
(View responses)
  5b. A region consisting of one or more groups of counties
(View responses)
  5c. One or more individual counties
(View responses)
  5d. Private non-profit or other entity (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Private non-profit or other entity:
(View responses)
 
 
6.  Does your state APS office monitor local compliance with any statewide policy governing adult protective services?
(Check one.)
1.
2.
3.
(View responses)
 
7.  In your state, is there a central statewide telephone number for reporting suspected elder abuse?
(Check one.)
1.
2.
3.
(View responses)
 
8.  In your state, which of the following best describes who is legally required to report suspected elder abuse?
(Check one.)
1.
2. (Skip to Question 10)
3. (Skip to Question 10)
4.
(View responses)
 
9.  Are each of the groups listed below mandated reporters in your state - that is, individuals legally required to report suspected elder abuse? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Yes
No
Don't know
  9a. Physicians
(View responses)
  9b. Home healthcare providers
(View responses)
  9c. Mental health services providers
(View responses)
  9d. Other types of healthcare providers
(View responses)
  9e. Law enforcement authorities
(View responses)
  9f. Judges
(View responses)
  9g. Clergy
(View responses)
  9h. Employees of financial institutions
(View responses)
  9i. Other (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Other types of mandated reporters:
(View responses)
 
 

Types of Alleged Elder Abuse that Qualify for Adult Protective Services

10.  Does each type of alleged elder abuse listed below qualify for adult protective services in your state? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Yes
No
No response
  10a. Physical abuse
(View responses)
  10b. Sexual abuse
(View responses)
  10c. Emotional or psychological abuse
(View responses)
  10d. Self-neglect
(View responses)
  10e. Neglect (other than self)
(View responses)
  10f. Financial exploitation
(View responses)
  10g. Other (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Other type of elder abuse:
(View responses)
 
 
11.  In each case of alleged elder abuse listed below, do you provide adult protective services only when alleged perpetrators are in a "position of trust" in relation to victims? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Yes
No
No response
  11a. Physical abuse
(View responses)
  11b. Sexual abuse
(View responses)
  11c. Emotional or psychological abuse
(View responses)
  11d. Self-neglect
(View responses)
  11e. Neglect (other than self)
(View responses)
  11f. Financial exploitation
(View responses)
  11g. Other (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Other type of elder abuse:
(View responses)
 
 

Population Served by Adult Protective Services

12.  In your state, can only the elderly, or both elderly and at-risk adults, qualify for adult protective services?
(Check one.)
1.
2.
3.
(View responses)
 
13.  According to your state laws or regulations, to qualify for adult protective services, must the elderly be...? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Yes
No
No response
  13a. Unable to perform activities of daily living?
(View responses)
  13b. Unable to make responsible decisions for themselves?
(View responses)
  13c. Dependent on another for their care?
(View responses)
  13d. Other (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Other:
(View responses)
 
 
14.  According to your state laws or regulations, can the elderly qualify for adult protective services based on age alone?
(Check one.)
1.
2.
3.
(View responses)
 
15.  In your state, what is the minimum age at which the elderly can qualify for adult protective services?
  years old
(View responses)
 
16.  In your state, what is the minimum age at which at-risk adults can qualify for adult protective services? If APS does not serve at-risk adults in your state, please check the box labeled "Not Applicable."
  years old
(View responses)
 
  Not applicable
(View responses)
 
17.  In your state, does APS investigate allegations of elder abuse in each of the following settings? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Yes
No
No response
  17a. In the community
(View responses)
  17b. In private facilities
(View responses)
  17c. In public facilities
(View responses)
 

Involvement of Criminal Justice Authorities in Elder Abuse Cases

18.  In your state, about what proportion of all substantiated elder abuse cases are referred to law enforcement authorities because of suspected criminal activity?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
19.  In your state, of all substantiated elder abuse cases that are referred to law enforcement authorities, about what proportion are prosecuted?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
20.  In your state, when assistance from law enforcement is needed for investigations of elder abuse, about how often is this assistance provided?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
21.  In your state, to what extent does the support available from the criminal justice system help APS to effectively identify and investigate suspected financial exploitation of the elderly?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 

Provision of Adult Protective Services to the Elderly

22.  Of all currently active elder abuse cases statewide, about what proportion, if any, involves a short-term emergency placement?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
23.  In your state, how easy or difficult is it, in general, to find short-term emergency placements for the elderly?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
24.  About what proportion, if any, of all currently active elder abuse cases statewide are receiving continuing or long-term case management from APS, post-investigation?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
25.  In your state, does APS have the authority to act as a guardian to elderly clients?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 27)
(View responses)
 
26.  In your state, in about what proportion of all currently active elder abuse cases is APS the client's guardian?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 

Statewide Data Collection and Management Systems for APS

27.  In your state, is there an automated data collection and management system that contains information on individual elder abuse cases statewide?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 30)
(View responses)
 
28.  Is this data collection and management system part of the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
29.  Does this data management system contain each type of information listed below? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Yes
No
No response
  Type of elder abuse(s) in the case
(View responses)
  Case outcomes
(View responses)
 

Information About Elderly Victims

   
Yes
No
No response
  Age
(View responses)
  Race
(View responses)
  Ethnicity
(View responses)
  Sex
(View responses)
 

Information About Alleged Perpetrators of Elder Abuse

   
Yes
No
No response
  Age
(View responses)
  Race
(View responses)
  Ethnicity
(View responses)
  Sex
(View responses)
  Relationship of alleged perpetrator to victim
(View responses)
  Whether the alleged perpetrator is the victim's guardian
(View responses)
 
 

 
SKIP TO QUESTION 32
(View responses)
 
30.  About what proportion, if any, of the adult protective services programs in your state has an automated data collection and management system that contains information on individual elder abuse cases?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
31.  Does your state APS office aggregate any data on individual elder abuse cases collected by individual APS programs?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
32.  Please describe the challenges, if any, your state APS office faces in collecting or aggregating data on individual elder abuse cases statewide.
(View responses)
 

Caseworkers for APS

33.  Currently, approximately how many full-time equivalents (FTEs) are dedicated to conducting casework for APS, statewide?
 
(View responses)
 
  FTEs:
 
(View responses)
 
  Statewide data on FTEs not available
(Skip to Question 36)
(View responses)
 
34.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of this number?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 36)
(Skip to Question 36)
(View responses)
 
35.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of this number.
(View responses)
 
36.  In your state, about what proportion of APS caseworkers, if any, also works on child protective services cases?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
37.  In your state, have any APS caseworkers been subject to furloughs during the last year?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
38.  In your state, have there been any freezes on hiring APS caseworkers in the last year?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 
39.  How sufficient or insufficient is the training provided to caseworkers on each of the following topics? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Very sufficient
Generally sufficient
Generally insufficient
Very insufficient
No response
  39a. Identifying financial exploitation of the elderly
(View responses)
  39b. Identifying elder abuse
(View responses)
  39c. Investigating financial exploitation of the elderly
(View responses)
  39d. Investigating elder abuse
(View responses)
  39e. Continuing case management of elderly clients
(View responses)
  39f. Field safety
(View responses)
  39g. Other training (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Other training:
(View responses)
 
 
40.  Of the training topics listed in question 39 above, which represents your greatest need? (Please enter the letter below.)
 
(View responses)
 
  Most needed training topic:
 
(View responses)
 

Public Awareness and Outreach

41.  In your state, what is the level of public awareness related to each of areas listed below? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Very high
High
Moderate
Low
Very low
No response
  41a. Indicators of elder abuse
(View responses)
  41b. How to report suspected elder abuse
(View responses)
  41c. What adult protective services has, and does not have, the authority to do
(View responses)
  41d. Who is required to report suspected elder abuse
(View responses)
  41e. Other areas (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Other areas:
(View responses)
 
 
42.  Over the last year, about how much outreach, if any, was your state APS office able to conduct with each of the following groups? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
A very great deal
A great deal
A moderate amount
Some amount
Little or no
No response
  42a. Law enforcement authorities in your state
(View responses)
  42b. Prosecutors in your state
(View responses)
  42c. Judges in your state
(View responses)
  42d. Other groups in your state (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Other groups:
(View responses)
 
 

Information and Technical Assistance

43.  Would each of the types of information and assistance listed below be of value to your state's adult protective services program? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Yes
No
No response
  43a. Information on promising practices related to adult protective services
(View responses)
  43b. Information about recent elder abuse research or projects
(View responses)
  43c. Training materials on elder abuse
(View responses)
  43d. Assistance for training APS caseworkers
(View responses)
  43e. Technical assistance for developing elder abuse programs
(View responses)
  43f. Elder abuse listserv
(View responses)
  43g. Regular newsletter on elder abuse related topics
(View responses)
  43h. Other (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Other type of information and assistance:
(View responses)
 
 
44.  Of the items listed above in question 43, which type of information and assistance would be of most value to your state? (Please enter the associated letter below.)
 
(View responses)
 
  Type of information or assistance which would be of most value:
 
(View responses)
 
45.  The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) was created to provide the types of information and assistance listed below. How useful has what NCEA has provided related to each of the following been to your state? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Of very great use
Of great use
Of moderate use
Of some use
Of little or no use
No basis to judge
  45a. Information on promising practices related to adult protective services
(View responses)
  45b. Information about NCEA's research or pilot projects
(View responses)
  45c. Information about other recent elder abuse research or projects
(View responses)
  45d. Training materials on elder abuse
(View responses)
  45e. Assistance for training APS caseworkers
(View responses)
  45f. Technical assistance for developing elder abuse programs
(View responses)
  45g. The NCEA listserv
(View responses)
  45h. The NCEA Newsletter
(View responses)
 

Data on Reports Received

46.  In state fiscal year 2009, about how many reports of suspected elder and at-risk adult abuse - prior to any screening for eligibility - were received statewide? (Enter number or check box)
 
(View responses)
 
  Total reports of elder and at-risk adult abuse received in FY 2009
 
(View responses)
 
  Can't determine
(Please proceed to Question 49)
(Skip to Question 50)
(View responses)
 
47.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of this number?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 49)
(Skip to Question 49)
(View responses)
 
48.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of this number.
(View responses)
 
49.  In state fiscal year 2009, about how many reports of suspected elder abuse - prior to any screening for eligibility - were received statewide? (Enter number or check box)
 
(View responses)
 
  Total reports of elder abuse received in FY 2009
 
(View responses)
 
  Can't determine
(Please proceed to Question 52)
(Skip to Question 52)
(View responses)
 
50.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of this number?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 52)
(Skip to Question 52)
(View responses)
 
51.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of this number.
(View responses)
 

Data on Cases Investigated

52.  In state fiscal year 2009, about how many cases of elder and at-risk adult abuse were investigated statewide? (Enter number or check box)
 
(View responses)
 
  Total cases of elder and at-risk abuse investigated in FY 2009
 
(View responses)
 
  Can't determine
(Please proceed to Question 55)
(Skip to Question 55)
(View responses)
 
53.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of this number?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 55)
(Skip to Question 55)
(View responses)
 
54.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of this number.
(View responses)
 
55.  In state fiscal year 2009, about how many cases of elder abuse were investigated statewide? (Enter number or check box)
 
(View responses)
 
  Total cases of elder abuse investigated in FY 2009
 
(View responses)
 
  Can't determine
(Please proceed to Question 58)
(Skip to Question 58)
(View responses)
 
56.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of this number?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 58)
(Skip to Question 58)
(View responses)
 
57.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of this number.
(View responses)
 

Data on Cases Substantiated

58.  In state fiscal year 2009, about how many cases of elder and at-risk adult abuse were substantiated statewide? (Enter number or check box)
 
(View responses)
 
  Total cases of elder and at-risk abuse substantiated in FY 2009
 
(View responses)
 
  Can't determine
(Please proceed to Question 61)
(Skip to Question 61)
(View responses)
 
59.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of this number?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 61)
(Skip to Question 61)
(View responses)
 
60.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of this number.
(View responses)
 
61.  In state fiscal year 2009, about how many cases of elder abuse were substantiated statewide? (Enter number or check box)
 
(View responses)
 
  Total cases of elder abuse substantiated in FY 2009
 
(View responses)
 
  Can't determine
(Please proceed to Question 64)
(Skip to Question 64)
(View responses)
 
62.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of this number?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 64)
(Skip to Question 64)
(View responses)
 
63.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of this number.
(View responses)
 

Data on Total Active Cases

64.  Currently, about how many total active or open cases - including investigations, guardianships and cases managed post-investigation, if any - of elder and at-risk adult abuse are in the APS system statewide? (Enter number or check box)
 
(View responses)
 
  Total active elder and at-risk adult abuse cases
 
(View responses)
 
  Can't determine
(Please proceed to Question 67)
(Skip to Question 67)
(View responses)
 
65.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of this number?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 67)
(Skip to Question 67)
(View responses)
 
66.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of this number.
(View responses)
 
67.  Currently, about how many total active cases - including any investigations, ongoing cases and guardianship cases - of elder abuse are in the APS system statewide? (Enter number or check box)
 
(View responses)
 
  Total active elder abuse cases
 
(View responses)
 
  Can't determine
(Please proceed to Question 70)
(Skip to Question 70)
(View responses)
 
68.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of this number?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 70)
(Skip to Question 70)
(View responses)
 
69.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of this number.
(View responses)
 
70.  What percent of your current caseload of elder and at-risk adult abuse is designated as each of the following types of abuse? Please note - percentages should total to 100%.
(If none, enter zero. If amount can't be determined, please check the box.)
(View responses)
 
Percent
Can't determine
  70a. Physical abuse
(View responses)
    .00%
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  70b. Sexual abuse
(View responses)
    .00%
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  70c. Emotional or psychological abuse
(View responses)
    .00%
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  70d. Self-neglect
(View responses)
    .00%
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  70e. Neglect (other than self)
(View responses)
    .00%
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  70f. Financial exploitation
(View responses)
    .00%
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  70g. Other type of abuse (please specify below)
(View responses)
    .00%
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
 
  Other type of abuse:
(View responses)
 
71.  How much confidence do you have in the accuracy of these numbers?
(Check one.)
(Skip to Question 73)
(Skip to Question 73)
(View responses)
 
72.  If you answered "Moderate", "Some" or "Little or no" confidence, please describe your concerns about the accuracy of these numbers.
(View responses)
 

Funding for Adult Protective Services

73.  In state fiscal year 2009, about how much funding was received from all sources for adult protective services statewide?
 
(View responses)
 
  Total:
$   .00
(View responses)
 
  Can't determine
(View responses)
 
74.  In state fiscal year 2009, how much of this funding came from each of the following sources?
(If none, enter zero. If amount can't be determined, please check the box.)
(View responses)
 
Amount
Can't determine
  74a. Department of Health and Human Services-Administration on Aging (AoA)/Older Americans Act (OAA)
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  74b. Department of Justice-Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  74c. Department of Justice-Office for Victims of Crimes (OVC)
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  74d. Social Service Block Grant
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  74e. Medicaid Waiver
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  74f. Other Medicaid
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  74g. Local revenues
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  74h. State revenues
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  74i. Other federal funding source (please specify below)
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  74j. Other non-federal funding source (please specify below)
(View responses)
  $   .00
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
 
  Other funding source:
(View responses)
 
75.  Over the last 5 years, how has funding for adult protective services from each of the sources listed below changed, if at all? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
Increased substantially
Generally increased
Stayed the same
Generally decreased
Decreased substantially
Can't determine
  75a. From federal sources
(View responses)
  75b. From state revenues
(View responses)
  75c. From local revenues
(View responses)
  75d. Total from all sources
(View responses)
 
76.  Please enter any comments you may have related to recent changes in funding levels for adult protective services.
(View responses)
 

Challenges

77.  In your state, how much of a challenge, if any, does each of the following pose for addressing elder abuse? (Check one box for each item.)
(View responses)
   
A very great challenge
A great challenge
A moderate challenge
Somewhat of a challenge
Little or no challenge
Not applicable
  77a. Compiling elder abuse case-level data statewide
(View responses)
  77b. The public's awareness of how to prevent elder abuse
(View responses)
  77c. The public's awareness of indicators of possible elder abuse
(View responses)
  77d. The public's awareness of how to report suspected elder abuse
(View responses)
  77e. APS's ability to retain experienced caseworkers
(View responses)
  77f. APS's lack of authority to fill vacant caseworker positions
(View responses)
  77g. Finding emergency placements for clients in elder abuse cases
(View responses)
  77h. Issues related to continuing case management of elder abuse cases after investigations are completed
(View responses)
  77i. The number of APS caseworkers available to handle elder abuse cases
(View responses)
  77j. Size of elder abuse caseload
(View responses)
  77k. Obtaining assistance from law enforcement in investigating alleged elder abuse
(View responses)
  77l. APS's ability to conduct outreach with law enforcement
(View responses)
  77m. The amount of training related to elder abuse APS is able to provide to caseworkers
(View responses)
  77n. APS's responsibility to act as guardian in elder abuse cases
(View responses)
  77o. The resources available to help identify and investigate financial exploitation of the elderly
(View responses)
  77p. Total amount of funding APS receives from all sources
(View responses)
  77q. The ability to monitor APS programs statewide
(View responses)
  77r. Other (please specify below)
(View responses)
 
  Other challenges:
(View responses)
 
 
78.  For the challenges listed in question 77, please enter in order the letters of your state's top three challenges beginning with the one that is most significant.
 
(View responses)
 
  First:
 
(View responses)
 
  Second:
 
(View responses)
 
  Third:
 
(View responses)
 
79.  In your opinion, what role should the federal government play in addressing elder abuse?
(View responses)
 
80.  In the space below, please enter any other comments you may have related to elder abuse or any of the topics covered in this questionnaire.
(View responses)
 

Complete Questionnaire

  Have you finished this questionnaire?
(Check one.)
(View responses)
 

Thank You

  Thank you for the time and effort you devoted to responding to this questionnaire.
 
(View responses)



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