Adult Protective Services
Aging is natural, abuse is not
Overview
Adult Protective Services (APS) works to help keep Wayne County residents, who are over the age of 60, safe.
When calls are received by APS, caseworkers evaluate any risk to the safety and well-being of alleged victims. If they find that there is a risk, caseworkers work with families, social service agencies and other community resources to meet the person’s needs and to improve the situation.
During normal business hours please call 330-287-5865 to report any elder abuse, neglect (by self or others) and exploitation of Wayne County residents age 60 and older. All calls are confidential. On nights, weekends and Holidays please call 911.
What is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse takes many forms. It includes abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation.
Physical abuse is any physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain or impairment. Physical abuse may include striking (with or without an object), beating, pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, kicking, pinching and burning. In addition, inappropriate use of drugs and physical restraints, force-feeding, and physical punishment of any kind also are examples of physical abuse.
Sexual abuse is non-consensual sexual contact of any kind, including unwanted touching and all types of sexual assault or battery, such as rape, sodomy, coerced nudity and sexually explicit photographing.
Emotional or psychological abuse is the infliction of anguish, pain or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts. It includes verbal assaults, insults, threats, intimidation, humiliation and harassment. In addition, other examples include: treating an older person like an infant; isolating an elderly person from his/her family, friends, or regular activities; forced social isolation and giving an older person the “silent treatment.”
Neglect is the refusal or failure to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties to an elder, including food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medicine, comfort, personal safety and other essentials included in an implied or agreed upon responsibility to an elder. Neglect may also include failure of a person who has fiduciary responsibilities for an elder (e.g., pay for necessary home care services).
Self-neglect is characterized as the behavior of an elderly person that threatens his/her own health or safety. Self-neglect generally manifests itself in an older person as a refusal or failure to provide himself/herself with adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medication (when indicated) and safety precautions because of a physical or mental handicap. Self-neglect excludes a situation in which a mentally competent older person, who understands the consequences of his/her decisions, makes a conscious and voluntary decision to engage in acts that threaten his/her health or safety as a matter of personal choice.
Abandonment is the desertion by an individual who has assumed responsibility for providing care or has physical custody of an elderly person.
Financial or material exploitation is the illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property or assets, such as cashing an elderly person’s checks without authorization or permission; forging a signature; misusing or stealing money or possessions; coercing or deceiving an older person into signing any document (e.g., contracts or will); and the improper use of conservatorship, guardianship or power of attorney.
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The Ohio Direction CardOnce families have been approved for food assistance, the Ohio Direction Card (also known as the Electronic Benefit Transfer EBT card) is issued and sent to the individual or family’s address. It can be used at most grocery stores across Wayne County. How does the card work? The card looks similar to and works like a credit or debit card. It can be used in most any food store checkout line. Check with the grocery store you go to most frequently and ask how your card will work. When users make eligible grocery purchases, they simply swipe the card through a reader at the register; the amount is deducted from the total monthly benefit amount. Remember that “eligible purchases” means food or food products but excludes alcohol, tobacco and food prepared to eat immediately, such as food at restaurants. Learn More To find out more information about the Ohio Direction Card, to check your account balance, review your transaction history, report that you are moving, or report a lost or stolen card call, 1-866-386-3071 or visit The Ohio Direction Card website.
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Meeting the Work RequirementOnce a family or individual is approved for food assistance, adults of the family who are considered Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) must meet the work requirement in order to continue to receive food assistance. An ABAWD is any individual who is: At least 18 years old, but not yet 50, Able-bodied, Not pregnant, and Not in an assistance group with a minor child. There are several different ways to meet the work requirement. Work 20 hours per week. Participate 20 hours per week in a job search program (for a maximum of three months). Participate in a work experience program. The number of hours you must complete is the amount you are receiving in food assistance, divided by the State minimum wage.
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Program Enrollment and Benefit InformationFor complete information about cash, food and medical assistance, you may want to review the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Program Enrollment and Benefit Information booklet. The booklet may help you determine: What types of services ODJFS offers Frequently asked questions about applying The difference between various Medicaid programs and services Your rights and responsibilities Information about state hearings Penalties for providing false information or committing fraud How we use social security numbers Information about citizenship and immigration status Your civil rights And other helpful resources Learn More
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Non-Discrimination StatementUSDA Conducted Programs All other FNS Nutrition Assistance Programs HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT If you believe you have been delayed or denied services because of your race, color, religion, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation or national origin, you may file a complaint within 180 days of the incident or treatment. For questions about how to file a complaint, call the ODJFS Bureau of Civil Rights, toll-free, at 1-866-227-6353. For more information, review the civil rights section of the ODJFS Program Enrollment and Benefit Information document.
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State HearingsIf you disagree with any action on your case or if you believe WCDJFS has not taken an action it should have, you may request a hearing by phoning the ODJFS Consumer Access Line at 1-866-635-3748, emailing your request to BSH@jfs.ohio.gov or contact Wayne County directly at 330-287-5800. To find out more about state hearings, please review the state hearing section of the ODJFS Program Enrollment and Benefit Information document.
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Voter RegistrationDid you know that Wayne county Job and Family services is a Designated agency for the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)? That means we have all the information you need if you decide you want to register to vote or need to update any information with the voter’s bureau. Click here to find out more information.