Enhancing APS through In-Home Capacity Assessments

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

The San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) serves seniors and adults with disabilities and responding to reports of elder abuse and neglect. San Bernardino County encompasses 20,105 square miles and is the largest County in the United States by area, with many seniors and adults with disabilities residing in remote areas who need access to services and may be unable to drive or access public transportation. Capacity assessments are utilized by DAAS Adult Protective Services (APS) staff to determine whether adults who have been victims of abuse should be referred to the Public Guardian to have a conservator appointed. Enhancing APS through In-Home Capacity Assessments is an initiative based on partnership between San Bernardino County DAAS and a reputable geriatric services specialist, Dr. Stacey Wood, to assess the mental status of elder and dependent adults who have been victims of abuse or neglect. The assessment assists APS staff in developing a protection strategy and minimizes the risk for abuse. DAAS contracts with Dr. Wood who specializes in geriatrics to conduct in-home capacity assessments for APS clients. Prior to November 2015, a geriatric services provider was only available in the Central Region of San Bernardino County; since then, services have been expanded to be conducted in the home of APS clients throughout the entire County. Enhancing APS through In-Home Capacity Assessments enabled DAAS to expand its boundaries for making referrals for capacity assessments. Dr. Wood’s ability and willingness to travel throughout the County to client’s homes to provide these evaluations allows APS Social Workers to make referrals for clients who were otherwise unable to travel to a facility to have this type of assessment completed.