World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was held on June 15, 2012.
View Media Coverage and Photos of the many fabulous celebrations!
City of Charleston Celebration
State Capitol Celebration
Observation of the 3rd annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at the State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia was held June 15, 2011. To view the proclamation, click here.
Greenbrier County Celebration
HARRISON County Celebration
Lincoln County Celebration
Marion County Celebration
Nicholas County Celebration
raleigh county celebration
Wood County Celebration
Slideshow of All Photos Below ( View Individual Sets at flickr )
This event was sponsored by:
- West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
- Kanawha Valley Senior Services
- West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services
- WV State Auditor's Office
- Legal Aid of West Virginia
- AARP Foundation
- WV Supreme Court
- WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- WV Senior Legal Aid
A Special Thank You to the West Virginia Divison of Juvenile Services for presenting the flags and performances by Sweet Adeline's and The String of Pearls!!!
APS Region Three Retreat
Region III held its Adult Services Retreat at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in Morgantown, WV on September 13 and 14, 2012.
Nancy Exline, Interim Deputy Commissioner and Lisa McMullen, Region III Interim Regional Director presented the opening remarks.
The Day I training session was conducted by Doris Ringler with the Region III WV Aging and Disability Resource Center. The focus of her presentation was to explain the basics of Medicare, Medicare Part D and State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). The presentation also covered the role of the WV Aging and Disability Resource Center. Adult Services staff serves a large number of clients as decision makers and knowledge of available community based resources is a valuable tool for staff.
Day I concluded with a training session during the evening dinner presented by Dr. Moss the Director of the Center for Health Ethics and Law discussing the WV e-Directive Registry Program, POST form (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) and the importance of Advanced Directives. Adult Services staff always appreciates the opportunity to learn from Dr. Moss direction and guidance on the difficult decisions they often have to make on behalf of their clients.
Day II presentation was given by Ron Hicks from Hospice Care Corporation. The session focused on how conversation and effective communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal play an important role when addressing patient/client and family needs during the end-of-life. This session was both needed and appreciated by Adult Services staff that is often involved with end-of-life decisions and care plans concerning their clients.
Day II training session concluded with updates from the Adult Services Training Unit, Bonnie Pishner and Mandy Weirich and the Adult Services Policy Unit, Susie Layne and Wade Samples.
The retreat wrapped up with a Recognition Luncheon for Adult Services staff. The Adult Services Supervisors, Stacy North, (Barbour, Taylor, Preston, Grant, Hardy and Pendleton Co. Adult Services district), Kathy Stalnaker, (Randolph, Tucker, Lewis and Upshur Co. Adult Services district) and Katy Davis, (Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan Mineral and Hampshire Co. Adult Services district) presented the District Champion Award to the recipients’ from each of their districts. Jennifer Warner was selected from the Barbour, Taylor, Preston, Grant, Hardy and Pendleton Co district, Sarah Sienkiewicz from the Randolph, Tucker, Lewis and Upshur Co district and Theresa Buck from the Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan, Mineral and Hampshire Co district. The Above and Beyond Award was presented by Kathy Stalnaker and Stacy North to Tony Hicks from the Barbour, Taylor, Preston, Grant, Hardy and Pendleton Co. District.
The District Champion is the district staff member who ‘Champions’ all aspects of being an Adult Services Worker—dependable, resourceful, best client advocate, knowledgeable of programs, community involvement. Jennifer, Sarah and Theresa all are great representatives of District Champions. The Over and Beyond award recognizes the staff member who has helped the district and/or region. Tony has assisted greatly with APS investigations during regional staff vacancies.
The Adult Services Units in Region III would like to thank Nancy Exline, Lisa McMullen and Region III CSM’s for their support of Adult Services.
Adult Protective Services (APS)
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families, is the agency within West Virginia that is responsible for providing protective services for adults, ages eighteen and older. Adult Protective Services may be provided to both incapacitated adults who live in their own home adults and residents of facilities such as nursing homes, personal care homes, residential board and care homes and adult family care homes. Adult Protective Services Policy can be found here.
Adult Protective Services include specific intervention activities that are intended to protect mentally and/or physically incapacitated adults from abuse and neglect by others and from self-neglect. The specific intervention activities that are provided by the Office of Social Service include investigation, assessment, and time-limited case management.
Anyone may make a report of adult abuse or neglect. In addition, certain groups of individuals are considered mandatory reporters and are required by law to make a report. If you know of or suspect that an incapacitated adult is being/has been abused or neglected you should immediately report this to the Department of Health and Human Resources. You may report abuse or neglect of an adult by calling:
- your local Department of Health and Human Resources, Adult Services Unit
- the statewide HOTLINE at 1-800-352-6513
If you request, your name as a reporter of adult abuse or neglect, will remain confidential and will not be shared with others. Reporters are also protected by law from civil or criminal liability when a report is made in good faith.
