State Protective Services for Adults Faces Cuts - Perdue

State protective services for adults faces cuts In Perdue's budget, up to one-third of program's jobs may be eliminated.
By ANDY MILLER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 02/20/08

The elderly woman had lived in an antiques-filled Atlanta townhouse and had amassed more than $1 million in assets.
By the time Susan Geoffrey met her, the townhouse was gone, and the woman, in her 80s, had only a fraction of her money left.

BY THE NUMBERS
· 1,700: Number of calls fielded by Georgia's Adult Protective Services per month
· 500: Investigations launched per month
· 3,000: Ongoing cases where workers can act as guardians and help handle people's medical decisions, among other duties

A caregiver, who had power of attorney, had spent the woman's money at a rate of up to $60,000 a month, says Geoffrey, an adult protection worker who investigated the case for the state. Geoffrey helped stop the years-long scam.
That case, which occurred several years ago, reflects the financial exploitation faced by vulnerable older adults. Many experience neglect and physical abuse by family members and strangers; other frail seniors, living alone, simply cannot care for themselves.
The adult protective services workers like Geoffrey investigate complaints, pursue cases and sometimes serve as guardians to people. The state caseworkers also help protect people with disabilities or mental illness.
But under a budget plan proposed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, up to one-third of the adult protective services jobs — about 53 — may be eliminated. The state Department of Human Resources, which runs the program, cites a loss of $4.1 million in federal funds as the reason for the budget crunch.
The Georgia House, alarmed by a predicted cut in positions, has injected an extra $1.6 million for the program above the $1.8 million budgeted by Perdue to offset the loss of federal money.
That supplemental 2008 budget is being considered this week by the Senate before it heads back to Perdue. The General Assembly also must vote on the program's 2009 budget.
Already, 14 vacancies exist statewide among the 151 jobs, which typically pay about $30,000 to $40,000 a year. The total program budget is about $14 million.
"How can you cut a program like this that protects people?'' said Ann Williams, 75, legislative chairwoman for the Georgia Council on Aging. "We need more caseworkers rather than fewer.''
A Perdue spokesman declined comment on budget specifics.
"It's barely adequately staffed now," said state Rep. Mark Butler (R-Carrollton), who heads a House Appropriations subcommittee focusing on DHR. "They're already stretched."
The additional funding by the House could help retain much, if not all, of the current work force.
Butler said he hopes the extra money will stay in the budget both this year and for fiscal 2009. "I can't see how you can argue against it," he said.
Elder abuse is rising, says Meg Heap, an assistant district attorney in Chatham County who specializes in these cases. "Often it's a caregiver or family member," she said. "It really hits seniors hard when they're victimized." More state caseworkers are needed to handle the load, Heap added.
Geoffrey, who retired two years ago from the state, said the elderly Atlanta woman's fraud case could've turned out much worse than it did. "We fortunately had enough money left to put [the woman] in a retirement apartment and get a nurse to stay with her."
"She only lived two more years. If we had not found her, she would not have had those good years," said Geoffrey, who did not disclose the victim's name because of confidentiality rules on clients.
Physical abuse of seniors can include beatings, cigarette burns and broken bones. Some people are deprived of food and needed medications.
"It certainly did shock me," Geoffrey said of her experience as an adult protective worker. "I couldn't believe that people could treat other people, especially family, that badly."
The caseworkers often go into hostile situations. "I was always amazed at what they did, and the danger they put themselves in," DeKalb County Probate Judge Jeryl Rosh said. "When they're out doing investigations, they have no protection. Quite often, they're perceived [by families] as meddlers."
With the state's population growing — and baby boomers aging — more caseworkers are needed, said Pat Lundy of Atlanta, a retired worker in adult protective services.
If jobs are cut, Lundy said, "You'll have a lot of vulnerable people going at risk. Some people will be at great risk, and some will die as a result."
• The Adult Protective Services hotline number is 1-888-774-0152 statewide, or 404-657-5250 in metro Atlanta.

SOURCE: atlantaJournalconsitutional
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As I had said before, as a group of seniors, we appear to be "dispensable". The "dying problem". Each case of elder abuse, resulting in premature death -- is seen by many as "problem solved"...Next!
I urge other seniors who can speak up, to do so. We must be heard. There are others, less fortunate and are in poor health.
Every government of the day, must be held responsible for the care of its seniors.