I spoke with a county Supervisor at Riverside County Office on Aging and asked several questions about getting assistance for our elderly up on the hill.
1. Riverside County Office on Aging: Do not hesitate to call ASAP if you (or a neighbor) needs assistance in the following areas:
a. caregiving assistance
b. medical assistance
c. assistance with Medicare/Medical
d. food assistance
e. medical equipment
f. safety and well being of an elderly individual (see also the APS post below)
g. assistance with in-home health care
h. and much more...
Phone Number for Riverside County Office on Aging
Aging and Disability Resource Connection
951-867-3800 or 1-800-510-2020
Please Note: The person in need of assistance must call or if the individual is unable to call due to a health condition, a family member and/or advocate may call for that person. However, the family member and/or advocate must be present with that person when they place the call.
2.
Adult Protective Services (APS) Phone Number: 1-800-491-7123. (24 hours a day)
Important Note: "Under California Law, abuse of an elder (person 65 or older) or dependent adult (person with a mental or physical disability) is a crime." While abuse may be physical, APS and California Law recognizes other forms of "elder abuse" such as:
a. Physical Abuse: "including hitting, punching, dragging, pulling hair or arms, burning, pinching, restraint, over or under medicating, etc.'
b. Sexual Abuse: "including sexual battery, rape, and spousal rape. It can also include convincing a victim, who is mentally retarded or mentally impaired, to have sex."
c. Neglect: including failure to provide: needed care, basic body hygiene, clean, safe housing, adequate food and liquid, clean, appropriate clothing, medical aids such as glasses and walkers, supervision for demented or developmentally delayed (mentally retarded) individuals."
d. Financial Abuse: "including taking or using a victim's money or other assets for any wrongful purpose or using undue influence to get a victim to sign documents (i.e. will, property transfer, etc.)"
e. Psychological Abuse: "including the caretaker being violent, aggressive, controlling, uncaring or threatening withdrawing care or nursing home placement. The abuse may also include isolating the victim form friends and family."
f. Abandonment: "means leaving the victim with-out care when the average person would know that this would endanger the victim."
g. Self Neglect: "is failure to provide one's self with needed care, food, shelter and clothing because of a mental or physical disability. Self neglect is NOT a crime but needs to be reported so the individual can receive help."
~Rev. Patricia
