Prevent the Abuse of At-Risk Adults and Elders

The El Paso County Pikes Peak Elder Abuse Coalition was created to empower and educate our community, older adults and caregivers. Our main functions are to provide information on services, policies and trainings for preventing mistreatment of elders. Mistreatment of elders appears in many different forms, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, undue influence, sexual abuse or exploitation, financial exploitation, denial of critical care and self-neglect. Meetings are held the third Friday of each month at Silver Key Senior Services, located at 1625 S. Murray Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80916. For more information please call Silver Key Senior Services at (719) 884-2349.

If you suspect mistreatment …

When making a report to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services, provide as much information as possible about the at-risk adult and the alleged perpetrator including:

The adult’s demographic information, such as name, gender, date of birth, or approximate age, address, current location if different from permanent address, and phone number;

  • Medical and/or disabling condition(s);
  • Contact information for friends, family, neighbors, or caregivers;
  • Specific concerns regarding the alleged mistreatment;
  • Safety concerns for the adult;
  • The alleged perpetrators information, such as name, gender, address, phone number and relationship to the at-risk adult, when mistreatment is alleged.

To make a report

Phone: (719) 444-5755
Fax: (719) 444-5780 (Monitored between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
E-Mail: DHS-APS@elpasoco.com

APS Referral Form

Mandatory Reporting Non-emergency Dispatch
Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD): 719-444-7000
El Paso Sheriff Office (EPSO): 719-390-5555

Mandatory Reporting

Mandatory reporters are required by law to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation (universally referred to as “mistreatment”) that is observed or that the reporter becomes aware of when that mistreatment is occurring to an at-risk elder or an at-risk adult with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). An at-risk elder is any person 70 years of age or older.

For more on mandatory reporting, visit the Who Is a Mandatory Reporter page.

Defining Mistreatment

“Mistreatment” means any of the following acts or omissions committed against an at-risk person:

  • The non-accidental infliction of bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death.
  • Confinement or restraint that is unreasonable under generally accepted care-taking standards.
  • Subjection to sexual conduct or contact classified as a crime.
  • “At-risk adult” means any person who is seventy years of age or older or any person who is eighteen years of age or older and is a person who is: impaired because of the loss of or permanent loss of use of a hand or foot or because of blindness or the permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to such a degree as to constitute virtual blindness; is unable to walk, see, hear, or speak; is unable to breathe without mechanical assistance; is a person with an intellectual and developmental disability: is a person with a mental illness; is mentally impaired; is blind; is receiving care and treatment for a developmental disability.
  • “At-risk adult with IDD” means a person who is eighteen years of age or older and is a person with an intellectual and developmental disability.
  • “At-risk elder” means any person who is seventy years of age or older.
  • “At-risk juvenile” means any person who is under the age of eighteen years and is a person with a disability.
  • “At-risk person” means an at-risk adult, an at-risk adult with IDD, an at-risk elder, or an at-risk juvenile.
  • “Caretaker” means a person who: is responsible for the care of an at-risk person as a result of a family or legal relationship; has assumed responsibility for the care of an at-risk person; or is paid to provide care or services to an at-risk person.
  • “Caretaker neglect” means neglect that occurs when adequate food, clothing, shelter, psychological care, physical care, medical care, rehabilitation, supervision, or any other treatment necessary for the health or safety of an at-risk person is not secured for an at-risk person or is not provided by a caretaker in a timely manner and with the degree of care that a reasonable person in the same situation would exercise, or a caretaker knowingly uses harassment, undue influence, or intimidation to create a hostile or fearful environment for an at-risk person.

Training Information

Several organizations offer training and other opportunities to learn about how to prevent the abuse and neglect of seniors and at-risk adults.

Upcoming Training

The Pikes Peak Elder Abuse Coalition (PPEAC) is seeking volunteers for a Guardianship Volunteer Advocate Program. This program is a community effort. Free training for the program is scheduled for February. The program is a community effort to expand the capacity of professional guardians to better serve the growing number of incapacitated persons who need a decision-maker in their lives, and to increase the number of individuals who can be served, thereby improving the quality of their lives.

We are looking for individuals who can give a commitment of at least six months, providing two to three hours per week of volunteer services. The free, 3-day training includes information about the role of the guardian, elder mistreatment, dementia, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and the advocate’s role and responsibilities.

Trainings will be held on 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on three Thursdays in February 2019: Feb. 7, 14, and 21.

Please pass the information along to others who may be interested. Here’s a recruitment flyer with all the details to share with those who may be interedted.

Ongoing Opportunities

Adult Protective Services is able to provide community/outreach training sessions related to Mandatory Reporting of At-Risk Adults and an Overview of Adult Protective Services. To inquire further or schedule a training, please contact the Adult Protective Services Intake Line at (719) 444-5755.

The UCCS Aging Center offers services, training and resources. The community-based non-profit mental health services facility is administered by the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and is located at the Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences Building, Third Floor, Suite 321, 4863 North Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.

The UCCS Gerontology Center offers a Professional Advancement Certificate in Gerontology designed. The full course extends over two semesters taken in sequence. New enrollees are accepted each semester.

The Colorado Coalition for Elder Rights and Abuse Prevention offer regular training sessions. Information is updated regularly on their website.

HealthCare Interactive offers education and resources for caring for someone with memory loss or dementia.

Resources

The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging offers a variety of classes and resources for seniors.

Silver Key offers Transportation Services, Meals on Wheels, Nutrition Services, and Case Management. Silver Key Senior Services is located at 1625 S. Murray Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80916. For more information please call (719) 884-2349.

AARP Foundation ElderWatch Colorado is a program with the Colorado attorney general and AARP Foundation whose mission is to ensure that no older adults are left to suffer, alone and in silence, at the hands of those who exploit them. The program fights the financial exploitation of older Coloradans through education and outreach, data collection, and the providing of assistance.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. There are many resources available on their website including:

 

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The El Paso County Pikes Peak Elder Abuse Coalition held a special event in June 2018 for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day with presentation to educate and equip seniors and others in the community.

Presentations included:

Emergency Shelter Program

The Emergency Shelter Program involves a formal referral and intake process. The program is a collaboration among community agencies, law enforcement, hospitals (especially emergency admissions) and participating long-term care communities and facilities.

There are criteria for admission into the program. The goal is to protect the at-risk adult. Part of the process involves fast-tracking Medicaid applications and the approval process for qualified applicants. Participating shelters help identify potential and available safe discharge options.

If there is an immediate threat to the elder or at-risk adult, call law enforcement. Adult Protective Services can be reached at (719) 444-5755, but that phone number is not monitored 24/7.

The group is also working on establishing a nonprofit guardianship organization to facilitate, when necessary, guardian appointment on an expedited basis for the purpose of emergency placement.

The Emergency Housing Subcommittee is part of the Pikes Peak Elder Abuse Coalition. Members meet regularly to improve the process and find ways to expand the network of participating communities.

Pikes Peak Elder Abuse Coalition Mission

A community collaboration working toward preventing and eliminating mistreatment of elder & at-risk adults in the Pikes Peak region.

Pikes Peak Elder Abuse Coalition Vision

A safe environment for every at-risk adult.