Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 1) | Page 71

Adult Protection Service Casework

An APS worker always works in a team, supports other caseworkers and
follows the directions of the courts and agencies.

What is “social work” as it relates to APS?
Social work intervention would include investigating allegations of abuse,
neglect or exploitation of people who are elderly or disabled. This involves:
• Helping clients maintain their dignity and as much as possible, their
independence.
• Building community relationships with law enforcement agents, medical
personnel, court personnel, and representatives from various agencies and
organizations.
• Conducting assessments of clients and their living conditions, developing
service plans and providing or arranging for services to remedy problems.
• Identifying some agencies that might be helpful in developing a service
plan which includes involuntary interventions.
• Researching the agencies and obtaining information from direct contact,
brochures, consultations with supervisors, and recommendations of coworkers in order to develop appropriate case plans with and for clients.

Interventions for older adult abuse, self-neglect
and self-harm
Social workers are in an ideal professional position to discover and intervene
in elder abuse, self-ne glect or self-harm in an older adult. Besides remedy,
social workers often can take the lead in establishing safeguards for an older
adult as a form of preventive work in these areas. Assessment is among the
first activities that the social worker carries out and it involves the following:
• Finding out what support systems are available to an older adult. These
may include available caregivers, local social services, home health care,
GPs and dentists.
• Developing a comprehensive understanding of the older adult’s financial
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