DEL.ICIO.USIn Perdue's budget, up to one-third of program's jobs may be eliminated.
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.
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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.
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Comments
By Linda
Mar 7, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Sonny Perdue should hang his head in shame. More cuts? Right!! His whole debacle and cohorts of DHR have been the bane for the handicapped and elderly in this state. Separate everything away from him and the DHR - if you have an omnsbudsman even in his office - they will not be separated and pressure will be put upon this by him to "look the other way" and protect the GOV and all offices, forsaking the consumers!
By Paul C Bryan
Mar 6, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
In response to the article written re: APS to lose positions per the gov's budget, I was disgusted with our politicians trying to take yet something else from the elderly who need more care, not more cuts. My wife is one of those APS CM who goes into all types of situations, puts herself in danger to help others, uses her own money to purchase needed items for the elderly, and who feels that it is her mission in life to care for the disabled/elderly in GA. To her, APS is a special calling in life to serve others, and an opportunity to use her skills to protect those who otherwise would be left to fend for themselves. I have seen her cry with both joy and pain over her many years of state social work for her clients and their families, as well as pray many long hours when in despair over things she has seen done to the elderly/disabled in GA. Should she decided today to quit work, her personality is the type to find someone else to keep helping in some way, even as a private citizen. I stongly hope that our Ga politicians look closely at the dedicated professionals they have in APS before deciding they are no longer needed. People like my wife spend their life making sure the more vulnerable of our state are safe, secure and cared about. And as long as there are people like her in state government, GA may have a chance to protect our elder/disenfranchised seniors.
By Terri Alvillar
Feb 20, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
Hopefully the APS workers who are laid off are the ones who are abusing elders under their care. How many APS workers end up in the wills of their charges like Marin County California APS worker Winnie Lau Casino who took Lillian Abernathy to an attorney to have her will re-written leaving her million dollar home to the social worker.
By Tracy
Feb 20, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Here is a link to a newstory out of Denver relating to the positive impact of Georgia's Adult Protective Services.
http://bhonline.org/blog/?p=69
By SAC
Feb 19, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this
As the spouse of an APS employee, I have seen first hand for the past three years the dedication and commitment my husband has for the program, which includes late nights, early mornings, holidays and Sunday worship interruptions to ensure that an elderly adult is protected. The APS workers are a dedicated group of professionals within the social services arena who service not for a monetary reward, but because they care about the well-being of the elderly and disabled populations of Georgia. Like my husband, I am sure there have been other workers who have gone into their own pockets to purchase medications and food and have not given it a second thought. State politicians, please be mindful of the fact that each day you become another day older. You can easily one day become a victim of physical abuse, neglect or exploitation at the hands of a family member, caregiver, or stranger. Who will be YOUR advocate? Who will fight to ensure that YOU are protected from further abuse? Keep the APS program funded to keep staff members in place to protect the elderly and today's working class. Without them, who will do the protecting?
By ray
Feb 19, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
Is this Atlanta's contribution to decimating our non productive elder population? Or do you have plans to form a more effective Elder Abuse Task forces as in other States?
Please consider a surcharge on strip bars, before you leave our elders become prey to cold hearted predators.
ElderAbuseHelp.Org(http://elderabusehelp.org/)
By gw
Feb 19, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
there will always be abuse of power as long as this gov. continues to example the same.
it has only gotten worst since this pres. threw the first stone at the weak fodder of this country to strengthen the queen's.
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