Audit rips scrutiny of elder abuse in Texas

AUSTIN — The Department of Family and Protective Services is blaming high turnover rates for a critical audit that found gaps in the agency’s efforts to protect the state’s elderly from abuse.

The audit of 250 cases found Adult Protective Services caseworkers didn’t always check in regularly on clients during an investigation to ensure they were safe. In four of 12 cases reviewed, caseworkers didn’t contact clients to verify their safety at least once every 30 days after doing an initial assessment.

“Not consistently making contacts with clients at the required frequency increases the risk that a client could be left in a state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation,” said the report released this week by the State Auditor’s Office.

The Department of Family and Protective Services said high turnover rates mean staffers are more likely to focus their attention on immediate client safety, rather than ongoing contacts. Currently, turnover rates at Adult Protective Services are the highest of any division in the department, officials said. Last fiscal year, 60 caseworkers left who had been on the job for less than one year. Nearly 80 are projected to leave this year.

As a result, the agency said supervisors are at times assigned to do casework — one of the problems flagged by the audit.

Department leaders told auditors they are taking steps to address those concerns, including giving workers a tool that helps them manage daily casework.

“The department will also continue to identify and address retention concerns in order to stabilize the APS workforce and improve the ability to comply with contact requirements,” the leaders said.

Adult Protective Services is tasked with investigating abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of adults over 65. The agency confirmed 1,050 cases last fiscal year, according to state data.