Over 100 cases of abuse against vulnerable adults

A new unit to investigate cases of abuse against the disabled and the infirmed has handled over 100 cases since it was set up by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) in May last year.

The early establishment of the Adult Protective Service (APS) was to tie in with plans to introduce a Vulnerable Adults Act that will give the state more statutory powers to protect such people.

The MSF has been preparing the groundwork for the proposed legislation, which it expects to be tabled in Parliament by early next year.

The new law will allow the state to enter private premises to assess a person's well-being and to move the abused person temporarily to safe places such as sheltered homes.

Currently, the community and government agencies can rely only on moral suasion to enter homes to provide assistance.

The ministry has been the key coordinator of a national network to manage family violence. It comes up with policies and provides funding and support to agencies that handle domestic violence cases.

With the APS, it investigates abuse cases involving vulnerable adults too.

And since its establishment, the APS and its 10 social workers have had their hands full.

The more than 100 instances of abuse it has dealt with so far ranged from neglect to more serious cases of physical or sexual assault.

Neglect is when a care-giver fails to provide even the basic care, such as food and shelter, to those who are unable to look after themselves.

But the most common type of abuse has been physical violence and neglect, an MSF spokesman said. The victims, who suffer from physical or mental infirmities such as dementia, range in age from 18 to those who are over 90.

Of the cases referred to the unit, the APS conducted full-fledged investigations into 21 of the more serious and complex cases.

These included one of an 80-year-old man who was suspected of being physically assaulted by his son. The elderly man was recently diagnosed with dementia and is using a wheelchair.

After investigations, the APS sent him to a nursing home as it deemed that the son was unable to care for him.

Social workers welcome the impending new law.

They point out, among other things, that they currently do not have the legal powers to intervene if a family denies them access to someone whom they believe is abused.

Members of the public who are concerned that someone may be abused can call the Comcare Call helpline on 1800-222-0000.

theresat@sph.com.sg

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