Adult Protective Services (APS), a county agency, is designed and State mandated, to protect the elderly from abuse.  These county services need to have adequate funding and staffing.   These services do not need to be duplicated by other agencies.  Without duplication of services the elderly can be helped at less cost to the taxpayer. 

County services should always be fiscally responsible; never spending the money just to make sure “their particular agency” receives the State stipend.  The statement in a county agency when duplication of services takes place, “think job security,” is not appropriate.  When services are duplicated, the client does not get twice the services; the client usually gets poorer quality of services.

Because one agency wants to protect its funds the client might be referred to another agency.  The elderly client, caught between the agencies actually is ill served.  The elderly in this scenario are usually confused and frustrated.  However, with the elderly continually being the target of abuse, specialized services within APS to address particular types of abuse, e.g. fiduciary abuse, would be appropriate and serve our elderly population more efficiently.

From my perspective, care for an elder is first worked out within the family of origin, then by friends, followed by the church.  Charitable non-profit agencies are next with government intervention being the effort of last resort.