Oregon Releases Comprehensive Report on Abuse in Community, Licensed Facilities for 2013

Substantiated perpetrators of all types of abuse were comprised of 59% family members.

33% of all the of the substantiated perpetrators in the 2013 sample had a fiduciary relationship with their victim, up from 25% in the prior study.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Office of Adult Abuse Prevention and Investigations (OAAPI), a shared service between the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority, released today the 2013 comprehensive report on abuse related to seniors, adults with all types of disabilities and children in licensed treatment settings.

The report was released in Portland at the National Adult Protective Services Association Conference, attended by over 600 protective services professionals from 42 states, five tribal nations, England, Singapore and Canada.

Last year, DHS received over 35,000 reports of suspected abuse or neglect of vulnerable Oregonians. Financial exploitation was the most commonly substantiated abuse type, representing nearly 33% of all substantiated abuse. Neglect was a close second with 28%.

Together, financial abuse and neglect accounted for over 60% of all substantiated abuse in Oregon for vulnerable adults in 2013.

"We produce this annual report to help us all better understand Oregon's abuse trends more clearly so we can target our prevention efforts to have the greatest impact," said Marie Cervantes OAAPI Director.

"Clearly financial exploitation and neglect are areas where more education and outreach should be focused."

Cervantes added that recently the state partnered with the Oregon Bankers Association to produce a banker's toolkit with information on how to spot financial abuse. This kit was given to over 20,000 bank employees in the state.

"We hope our outreach efforts, such as with the banker's toolkit, will increase public awareness and understanding so people will report abuse to authorities if they suspect someone may be in danger or has been injured or exploited," she said.

Here are some key facts about abuse in Oregon for 2013:

• DHS received over 35,000 reports of possible abuse or neglect of vulnerable Oregonians;
• 3,273 people were determined to have been abused, some with multiple abuses or multiple incidents;
• 14,250 allegations of possible abuse were investigated for those over the age of 65 or who have a physical disability. Of those allegations, a total of 2,025 adults were determined to have been abused.
• 3,625 allegations for older adults and people with physical disabilities residing in licensed facility settings were investigated. A total of 544 adults were determined to have been abused.
• 1,480 allegations of possible abuse were investigated for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A total of 510 adults were determined to have been abused.
• 557 allegations of possible abuse for adults with mental illness were investigated. 150 adults were determined to have been abused.
• 212 allegations of possible abuse for children in licensed children's settings were investigated; 45 children were determined to have been abused.
• 2,609 assessments for possible self-neglect were investigated. Of those, 546 adults were determined to be self-neglecting.

Family members, intimate partners and/or trusted caregivers were the most common perpetrators across all settings in 2013.

The 2013 annual report is available online. To read the full report, go to: www.oregon.gov/dhs/spwpd/adult-abuse/Pages/data.aspx and select "2013 Annual Report".