Policy Text
Field Services Page 1 of 3 07/05 (REV 1/04)
Elder Abuse
The purpose of this order is to o utline the patrol officer's re sponsibilities when
encountering abuses of elderly victims. I. General
A. The Sheriff's Department sha ll report to the Department of S ocial Services
any known or suspected instance of the following types of abuse of an
elder or dependent adult.
1. Physical
2. Sexual
3. Neglect
4. Abandonment
5. Financial
6. Isolation
7. Psychological
B. When the abuse is alleged to have occurred outside of a long -term care
facility, the incident shall be r eported immediately or as soon as practical
by telephone to Adult Protective Services, followed up with a w ritten report
within two (2) working days o f receiving the information.
C. When the abuse is alleged to have occurred within a long-ter m care
facility, this reporting shall be made to the Long-term Care Om budsman
Coordinator.
Field Services Page 2 of 3 07/05 (REV 1/04) II. Definitions
A. Elder - Any person 65 years of age or older.
B. Dependent Adult - Any person between the ages of 18 and 64 w ho has
physical or mental lim itations which restr ict their ability to carry out normal
activities or to protect their rights.
C. Caretaker - Any person who has the care, custody, or control of or stands
in a position of trust with an elder or dependent adult.
D. Physical Abuse - The infliction of physical assault, unreaso nable physical
constraint, and sexual assault.
E. Psychological Abuse - Verbal assaults, threats, fear, isolat ion, withholding
emotional support.
F. Financial Abuse - Theft, mi suse of funds or property, extort ion, duress,
fraud and fiduciary misappropriation.
G. Long-term Care Facility - Sk illed nursing homes, intermediat e care, adult
day care, community care, resi dential care (licensed or unlicen sed), or any
acute care facility or adult day health care.
H. Long-term Care Ombudsman Coor dinator - an agency contracted by the
Department of Social Services to investigate and handle suspect ed elder
abuse cases occurring in any licensed facility.
III. Reporting Responsibilities
The Sheriff's Department must assi st in protecting elder victim s if a crime has
been committed and to pursue the apprehension and pr osecution o f the
person(s) responsible for the abuse.
A. Abuse of an elder OUTSIDE of an unlicensed or along-term car e facility
shall be reported to Adult Protect ive Services (A.P.S.) as soon as
practical.
1. Forward written report to Sex ual and Elder Abuse Bureau of
Sheriff's Department. This will satisfy the officer's statutor y
obligation to report the inciden t. Be sure that the report is coded as
a Special Crime category.
2. A.P.S. shall be contacted when the victim may be in a contin uing
dangerous situation and the offi cer requests assistance with
locating an alternative temporary placement.
3. A.P.S. shall be contacted i f there is reason to believe that a social
worker is necessary to the interv iew or investigation, or can p rovide
support services.
Field Services Page 3 of 3 07/05 (REV 1/04) B. Abuse of an elder W ITHIN a long-term fa cility shall be repor ted to the
Long-term Care Ombudsman Coordinator.
1. Contact A.P.S. for assistance if needed, or if the victim ma y be in a
continuing dangerous sit uation and assistance is necessary in
locating an alternative temporary placement.
2. Forward written report to Sex ual and Elder Abuse Bureau of
Sheriff's Department.
3. The Long-term Care Ombudsman is available to assist with
interviews and/or investigations or can provide support service s.
C. If an officer suspects/or is told of suspected abuse occurri ng in either an
unlicensed facility or long-term ca re facility, the officer sha ll complete a
report of Suspected Dependent Adul t/Elder Abuse Form (SOC 341) and
shall be forwarded to the Sexual and Elder Abuse Bureau of the Sheriff’s
Department, who will in turn forward the report (SOC 341) to th e
Department of Social Services (Adult Protective Services).
D. If a crime has been committed against an elder or dependent adult, the
reporting officer shall complete a Crime Report and include the
appropriate 368 Penal Code section.