YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE
Highland Valley's Protective Services program operates to ensure that elders in our community can live quality long lives, free from the risk of abuse, financial exploitation or self-neglect. However, if an allegation of abuse or neglect is reported, our protective services staff is there to investigate reports and work with the family and community agencies to provide the appropriate medical, mental health, legal, and social services.
IDENTIFYING ELDER ABUSE
Elder abuse can occur in a number of forms, from physical to emotional abuse. It can also include financial exploitation and/or caretaker neglect. And sometimes, elders living alone can be victims of self-neglect. A variety of signs may indicate abuse or self-neglect, including suspicious bruises, pressure marks or broken bones as well as poor hygiene and unattended medical needs. If you suspect a problem, please make a report.
*Please take note, if you believe there is an immediate danger to the well-being of an elder, you should contact the police emergency dispatch system by calling 911.
REPORTING ELDER ABUSE
Anyone who has a concern that an elder has been abused or is at risk for abuse or neglect should report directly to the Massachusetts Statewide Elder Abuse Hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-800-922-2275 V/TTD.
Your report will be kept strictly confidential and there is no personal liability risk to you for making the report.
PROTECTIVE SERVICES ACTION STEPS
From the moment a report is received at Highland Valley, we assign a protective services case worker to conduct a thorough investigation and to determine whether abuse is present and if so, the nature and the extent of it. If abuse is confirmed the caseworker will work together with elders and their caregivers to develop a protective services care plan designed to end the abuse. For cases in which self-neglect is apparent, family members will be involved in developing a plan aimed at improving the elder's self-care and reducing risk for further self-neglect. The plan may provide additional support services, including temporary guardianship.
MANDATED REPORTERS
Massachusetts laws require numerous individuals and organizations to report elder abuse or face a fine. These include Councils on Aging, fire departments, banks, the District Attorney's office, doctors, nurses, social workers, police and other emergency responders, elder outreach workers, directors of home health agencies and certain other workers. Mandated reporters must call immediately to report abuse and file a written report within 48 hours. Please contact the Protective Services program for a complete list of mandated reporters.
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