A presentation on Protective Services (PS) will be featured at the annual public hearing conducted by the Advisory Council of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services/Area Agency on Aging (DHS/AAA) on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., in the Gold Room (4th floor) of the Allegheny County Courthouse (436 Grant Street, Downtown Pittsburgh).
In addition to supporting the independence of older adults, the DHS/AAA investigates reports of abuse, neglect, abandonment and financial exploitation of older adults, takes steps to reduce the risk of harm to them and works actively to promote prevention strategies in communities. The AAA’s PS unit currently investigates about 1,500 reports of need annually, and is one of the most active units in the state.
The presentation will cover the special challenges faced by PS investigators, how to identify elder abuse, common characteristics of victims, case studies, and local and national trends in the field. The presentation will provide valuable information to individuals and groups interested in developing greater public awareness and prevention of elder abuse in their communities, including municipal service personnel (police, EMS , etc.), health and human services professionals, clergy, caregivers of older adults, and public services groups, among others.
The main purpose of the hearing is to solicit comments on the 2011-2012 Area Plan and Budget Prospectus. Persons wishing to make comments may register in advance by calling the DHS/AAA at 412-350-4083 to schedule a time slot; a maximum of five minutes is allotted to each speaker. Following the scheduled speakers, additional (unscheduled) speakers may provide comments, as time permits.
The hearing is also an opportunity for older adults, caregivers and other interested individuals to ask questions and offer comments about aging services in general. All oral and written comments will be recorded in the proceedings of the hearing and sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.
Written comments will be accepted before, at or after the hearing. All written comments must be received no later than 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, either by e-mailing them to the above contact, or mailing them to Allegheny County Department of Human Services/Area Agency on Aging, Attention: Planning Section, 441 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
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