Adult Protective Services staff see success in protecting vulnerable adults

The people working for DSHS’ Adult Protective Services are dedicated to serving vulnerable adults. Staff investigate reports about abuse, abandonment, neglect, exploitation and self-neglect, while collaborating with other state, county and local agencies to offer protective services as needed. Those joint efforts help vulnerable Washingtonians enjoy lives free of harm. Here are some recent success stories.

Interagency Teamwork & Collaboration

Adult Protective Services staff worked closely with the Washington Attorney General’s Office to obtain a vulnerable adult protection order to stop exploitation by a family member. The client was at risk of being evicted from a facility due to unpaid bills exceeding $90,000. In the course of the investigation, it was determined the family member was serving as the power of attorney and had taken more than $100,000 from the client to purchase a home in their own name and had failed to pay the client’s bills.

The investigator collaborated with the AGO and the client’s other estranged family members to file for conservatorship, appointing the daughter as guardian and son as conservator. The investigator worked with the new guardian to seek Veterans Administration services to obtain needed medical care, including hearing aids, which significantly improved their quality of life. The family also worked diligently with an attorney to seek judgement from the court to have the perpetrator repay the client’s funds.

Thanks to the investigator’s dedicated efforts, they were able implement protective services for the client, secure a stable living situation, and assist the client in accessing medical care.

From Crisis to Stability

APS was called regarding a couple experiencing memory and cognitive issues, which were causing them to struggle to pay their bills, support themselves, and left them in danger of losing their home. During the investigation, the couple was hesitant to accept the protective services offered by APS. The investigator closely monitored the clients and presented their situation before a multi-disciplinary team who were genuinely interested in ensuring the clients’ safety.

The investigator worked with the local Washington Attorney General’s Office to petition for and secure a guardianship. With the guardianship in place, the couple’s bills were paid, their finances were managed, and they were able to maintain ownership of their home. Additional supports were provided for the couple to remain safely in their home, which significantly improved their lives.

Guardianship and New Beginnings

APS received a report involving two siblings, with allegations of neglect by their aging parents. The siblings lived with their parents in a home described as cluttered and dirty. The home had been reported to the county code enforcement on several occasions for large amounts of solid waste around it. One sibling was seen walking outside lightly dressed in 33-degree weather and appeared disheveled. During a follow-up visit by the APS investigator, no one was home. While waiting for the family to arrive, the investigator received a call from the mother stating they were at the hospital due to a medical issue with the father.

The staff drove to the hospital and found the siblings unsupervised in a vehicle appearing confused and anxious. APS reached out to law enforcement for assistance. Neither parent checked on the siblings for more than two hours. When law enforcement arrived, they transported the siblings for medical attention. Both were later transferred to a skilled nursing facility. The guardianship process was started, and the siblings got necessary medical and dental assistance, and received donated clothing and essential items from facility staff.

Through the joint efforts of APS, law enforcement, and the nursing facility, the siblings are now thriving, receiving much needed medical care, participating in social activities, and forming friendships.

If you think a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited, you can make a report to Adult Protective Services online or by calling 1–877–734–6277. For more information on recognizing the signs of abuse, visit our website. Learn more about Adult Protective Services in our annual report.