Senior Resource Directory Senior Resource Directory

eturn for transfer or assignments
of your property or assets
unless a lawyer, advocate,
or another trusted person acts
as a witness to the trans ac tion.
• Don’t sign a document unless
someone you trust has reviewed
it.
• Don’t allow anyone else to
keep details of your fi nances
or property man age ment from
you.
Abuse and/or neglect may be
in ten tion al or due to a caregiver’s
lack of knowledge or capacity to
care for the older person. Abuse
also can be re fl ec tive of a stressed
family or long-standing diffi cult
parent-child re la tion ship. Elder
abuse can be found anywhere that
senior citizens are located—in the
home, in residential or convalescent
facilities, or in other areas of
the community. Abusers can be
family members, caregivers, employees,
or strangers.
If you suspect that an elder is being
abused, contact:
Adult Protective Services
Santa Barbara
681-4550
Santa Maria
346-8303
Lompoc
737-6020
An investigation into the suspected
abuse may be initiated based
upon the in for ma tion that you
are able to provide. You may, if
you choose, report anonymously
or call to discuss your concerns
without making a report .
Elder-care cus to di ans, health
prac ti tio ners, or em ploy ees of
County Adult Protective Services
Agencies who, within their
pro fes sion al capacity or within
the scope of the employment,
suspect an incident of physical
abuse, MUST REPORT immedi-
ately by telephone and in writing
within two working days to Adult
Protective Services, Long-Term
Care Om buds man Services, or to
the police .
IN CASE OF AN EMER GEN CY,
CALL 9-1-1.
District Attorney’s Offi ce Elder
Abuse Prosecution Unit
Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm M-F
1112 Santa Barbara St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
568-2400
312-D East Cook Street
Santa Maria, CA 93454
346-7529
The District Attorney’s Office has
a specialized unit to prosecute
crimes committed against elders.
The Unit is comprised of trained
investigators and prosecutors
who are familiar with dynamics
which are common in elder abuse
cases. In addition to the assignment
of specially trained Elder
Abuse pros e cu tors and in ves -
ti ga tors, the District Attorney’s
Office has implemented an Elder
Abuse Ad vo ca cy Program comprised
of crime victim advocates.
The advocates offer services to
victims and their families that
include crisis intervention, ori en -
ta tion to the criminal justice
system, case status information,
court support, referral and
resource in for ma tion, assistance
in obtaining state compensation
for crime related expenses and
emer gen cy food and financial
assistance.
ELDER ABUSE
How to Hire
In Home Care Workers
A Guide for Seniors, their Families
and others with Spe cial Needs in
Santa Barbara County
In Santa Barbara County, a Guide has been
prepared to assist an older person to remain
in their own home. Remaining in de pen dent
and living at home is the pref er ence of most
older persons. Contact Senior Connection at
800-510-2020 for a copy of the Guide.
A number of services are available today
which can help an older person stay in their
own home and live an independent life. A
person may need one or more services to
ensure their safety and security in the home .
Some services are provided by vol un teers supervised
by a local public or non profi t organization.
Other services are provided by paid workers
from agen cies or persons who are hired
in de pen dent ly by the older person or family. In
any instance it is im por tant to be careful about
ar range ments made for care in the home.
As you think about arranging services to
help in the home, con sid er the fol low ing:
• Can you count on family and friends to
help out? On a regular basis or occassionally?
Financially? With transportation?
• Can the home be modifi ed tro accommodate
a physical dis abil i ty?
• What does each service cost? How much
of the cost can be paid for through
Medicare? Medi-Cal? Other insurance?
• If several services are needed, does the
cost of all of them added to geth er
become pro hib i tive?
Many inhome services require that a
stranger come into your house. Before
deciding which services to use, be sure
to obtain the fol low ing information:
• When using an agency to obtain a
personal care aide, ask for and check out
the ref er enc es of the agency itself. The
agency should be bonded and in sured.
• Ask for and contact the aide’s ref er enc es.
Be sure that the aide is trained to perform
the re quired duties.
• Settle all arrangements for paying the
aide, his or her trans por ta tion costs,
Social Security, or other fringe benefi ts
before the aide starts work. Find out who
is legally liable and responsible if anything
is stolen by the aide or if the aide is
involved in an accident in the home.
• Prepare a schedule of tasks and working
hours for the aide before every visit.
Insist that the aide follow the schedule.
• Require that receipts ac com pa ny all
purchases made on behalf of the client
by the aide during shopping trips
2005-2007 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SENIOR RESOURCE DIRECTORY 27