Q&A
Council member inquires about Adult Protective Services (APS) challenges
2:27:41
·
3 min
Council Member Crystal Hudson engages in a Q&A session about Adult Protective Services (APS) with Jeannine Cahill-Jackson from the Legal Aid Society. They discuss recent challenges in accessing APS services, including fewer older adults receiving resources and difficulties in getting APS cases approved.
- Hudson references the Mayor's Management Report (MMR) showing a decrease in APS resources for older adults
- Cahill-Jackson confirms difficulties in getting APS services approved, even for qualified seniors
- They discuss a 19% drop in APS referrals and the lack of clear reasons provided for rejections
Crystal Hudson
2:27:41
And then you mentioned APS?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
2:27:45
Yes.
Crystal Hudson
2:27:46
And I know that in the recent MMR report, the mayor's report on management and mayor's management report.
2:27:59
Thank you.
2:28:00
The MMR talks specifically about APS and fewer older adults specifically getting those resources.
2:28:10
Are you able to talk about that at all and just like what you're seeing?
2:28:16
In terms of APS specifically.
2:28:18
I know that I know that's, like, not why you're here, but
Jeannine Cahill-Jackson
2:28:20
I can definitely speak to that.
2:28:21
I'm not sure if it gets to the number.
2:28:24
Just a little clarification as to the number because I'm not familiar with the report.
2:28:28
It was that fewer older adults are are being are qualifying for the services or applying for them.
2:28:34
What was that?
Crystal Hudson
2:28:34
I I think the more or the same number are applying, but fewer are actually getting the resources.
2:28:42
And then also, I think case managers have more people, which I guess is the reason why they're getting fewer resources.
2:28:49
They just don't have the capacity to meet those needs.
Jeannine Cahill-Jackson
2:28:53
Yes.
2:28:53
So we are definitely seeing that on the ground.
2:28:58
So specifically in our work trying to keep seniors in their apartments, it's often either just as many of the proposals are, you know, aimed at either getting them the services.
2:29:08
So once their rent is paid, they can sustainably stay in place.
2:29:12
And or to also get the city of Pennsylvania Subsidy.
2:29:15
So very often, we're advocating to try and get our clients' APS services, and it has become increasingly harder to do so.
2:29:26
Even when on the face of it, they do meet the qualification standards.
2:29:30
And so it's only through perhaps often a second or third referral and advocacy.
2:29:37
On behalf of the clients that were able to get the cases approved.
2:29:41
So I would see I would say no doubt if you were a senior that didn't have a legal advocate on your side helping to you to navigate the system and advocate on the behalf of your referral I would likely see many more denials.
Crystal Hudson
2:29:55
And then, again, I apologize.
2:29:58
I know this isn't like why you came, but I just wanna if, you know, if you're able to answer and or at least give some perspective, then I wanna take the opportunity to get that.
2:30:09
We're seeing from the report 19% drop in referrals.
2:30:14
Do you know if folks are being given reasons for being rejected for referrals?
Po-Ling Ng
2:30:23
They so
Jeannine Cahill-Jackson
2:30:25
I can only speak in terms of the folks that are our clients and also that subsequently become our clients.
2:30:31
At times, there have been APS referrals Perhaps the court is involved or GAL, and then once legal aid, they become a client of legal aid where maybe informed that there was 1 or 1 or 2 referrals before we came on
Susan Zhuang
2:30:43
the case.
Jeannine Cahill-Jackson
2:30:45
In our experience, they the senior isn't always given the written form, and often we are able to get the information if we're able to get it regarding why the case was denied through speaking directly with the with the directors of the Burrow Offices in APS.
2:31:03
So we're not seeing the the actually, the completion of the form as to why they were denied.
2:31:11
Sometimes they will receive the form saying they were denied, but no reason is provided.
Crystal Hudson
2:31:15
Okay.
2:31:16
Great.
2:31:16
Thank you so much.
2:31:17
Appreciate that.
Jeannine Cahill-Jackson
2:31:18
Thank you.
