Aging and Adult Services: Protection
Protection Services
All seniors and adults with disabilities have the right to live their lives in a healthy and safe environment and to conduct their lives without emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, neglect, self-neglect, isolation, abandonment, financial abuse, or the fear of abuse.
Protection
Adult Protective Services
Forms for mandated reporters:
SOC 341, as adopted by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), is required under Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Sections 15630 and 15658(a)(1). This form documents the information given by the reporting party on the suspected incident of abuse or neglect of an elder or dependent adult.
Safety Highlight: Coronavirus Scams
Three Ways to Avoid COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
The Federal Trade Commission issued a new consumer education blog post on December 8, 2020, with the National Association of Attorneys General, offering tips on how to recognize and avoid vaccine-related scams. According to the post, with COVID-19 vaccines in the pipeline, scammers will not be far behind, and people should recognize the red flags of potential scams.
Common Coronavirus Scams
Technology Scams
One of the most popular scams affecting older adults in San Mateo County involves fraudsters acting as computer techs reaching out to consumers claiming that their devices are infected with viruses – and for a small fee paid immediately, the fraudsters can remove those viruses.
COVID Elder Abuse Resources
Stop Telemarketers
Some solicitation calls are more a nuisance than an attempted theft or scam. Here are some ways to stop junk calls. (Note: Many scams are conducted via telephone conversations with older adults. Scammers are trained in using the right language so that they come off as trusting and knowledgeable. These tips help with solicitors calling on behalf of legitimate business entities.)
Fall Prevention
Falls are the top cause of injury, hospital visits, and death from injury for people 65 and older. In fact, 1 in 3 people 65 and older fall each year. But falls don’t have to be an inevitable part of getting older. Learn more about how you can prevent falls.