Elder Abuse And Elderly Protective Services
About
About Elder Abuse And Elderly Protective Services
Elderly Protective Services (EPS) is responsible for investigating reports of elders aged 60 and above who are at risk due to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and extortion.
In accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 14:403.2, Elderly Protective Services is committed to establishing systems to provide protection to individuals who are unable to independently provide for themselves or to manage their resources, and who are harmed or threatened with harm through the action or inaction of themselves, those entrusted with their care, or other parties.
- Reports of Elder abuse may be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to 1-844-94LAEPS or 1-844-945-2377.
- If you witness a life-threatening situation involving an older adult with disabilities, immediately call 911.
- For those who require TTY assistance, please call Louisiana Relay at 1-800-846-5277 or 711.
- Spanish speaking can call 1-800-737-1813.
Report incidents of abuse, neglect, and exploitation involving adults 18-59 to Adult Protective Services at 1-800-898-4910.
It is important to note that everyone is a mandatory reporter of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the elderly.
What You Need To know
According to Louisiana law, elder abuse is the infliction of physical or mental injury on an adult 60 years or older by other parties, including but not limited to such means as sexual abuse, abandonment, isolation, exploitation, or extortion of funds or other things of value, to such an extent that the health, self-determination or emotional well-being of the adult 60 or older is endangered.
Some signs of elder abuse to look for are:
- Physical harm, such as pushing, hitting, restraining the person; - Emotional and verbal bullying, such as screaming, threatening or insulting the person;
- The caregiver isolating the person, or the older person becoming isolated to the point of danger;
- Sexual abuse, particularly against a person who does not consent;
- Neglect, such as not providing for medicine, medical care, food, personal care, utilities, or daily needs;
- Overmedication;
- Self-neglect to the point of danger;
- Stealing or misusing money, property, or the possessions of the elderly person.
The Elderly Protective Services (EPS) Program is a state agency in Louisiana that investigates allegations of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation against persons 60 or older. EPS provides statewide services through regional offices throughout the State. It is responsible for creating a plan to solve the problem utilizing local resources if a complaint is determined to be valid. EPS staff also monitors the plan at each step until the situation is resolved. Additionally, EPS may seek court orders to protect the victim and may send the case to the local District Attorney for criminal prosecution if warranted.
EVERYONE is a mandatory reporter of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the elderly. This includes doctors, dentists, nurses, social workers, counselors, police officers, psychologists, coroners, podiatrists, occupational therapists, osteopaths, probation officers, the staff of homemaker and home health agencies, or nursing facilities, financial directors, bank tellers, family members, neighbors, and friends.
You can report abuse or neglect to EPS by calling the toll-free EPS Statewide Hotline at 1-800-898-4910 (from within Louisiana only) or, if out of state, call 1-225-342-9722.
After a report is made to EPS, EPS staff investigates each complaint. If EPS determines that the complaint is valid, they will create a plan to solve the problem utilizing local resources. This may involve finding someone the victim trusts to help handle finances, obtaining services such as meals on wheels or homemaker services for the victim, or helping the victim move to a safer home. EPS staff may also force the abuser to move and stay away from the victim if necessary. EPS staff monitors the plan at each step until the situation is resolved. If EPS determines that a case of abuse or neglect warrants it, they may seek court orders to protect the victim and may send the case to the local District Attorney for criminal prosecution. If EPS determines that it does not have appropriate authority to handle the matter, they will refer the investigation to other agencies, programs, or local resources able to help the victim.
Those who report abuse in good faith are protected by the following provisions:
- If you act in good faith by reporting what you believe to be abuse or neglect, you cannot be ordered by a court to pay damages, even if no abuse is validated.
- No criminal charges can be brought against you if you make a report in good faith, but if you are aware of abuse or neglect and fail to report it, you could be charged with a crime and either fined or jailed.
- All reports are confidential, and EPS cannot release the reporter's name without a written release signed by the reporter.
When an incident occurs, all reports to EPS should provide the name and address of the elder, the name and address of the person responsible for the care of the elder, and any additional information related to suspicions. Helpful information includes but is not limited to, observations of physical harm, emotional and verbal bullying, isolation, sexual abuse, neglect, overmedication, self-neglect, stealing or misusing money, property, or possessions of the elderly person, and any other relevant details.
No, EPS does not investigate abuse or neglect in nursing homes, assisted living, or personal care homes of persons 60 or older. Complaints related to these facilities are reported to the Long Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-960-7705 or online to DHH Health Standards.