Standardizing Risk Assessment in Adult Protective Services

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Adult protective services programs are at a critical juncture. While the elderly population is increasing rapidly, APS programs remain at a disadvantage for stable funding and growth without a standardized approach to risk assessment and intervention that leads to measurable outcomes. Armed with objective data, adult protective services will be poised to meet the complex needs of a growing population. Recognizing the need for greater consistency in identifying risk among vulnerable adults, Ventura County has designed a risk assessment instrument. The RAI standardizes the approach to assessing risk, correlates the assessment with interventions, and measures outcomes in the areas of health, safety and the elimination or reduction of harm.

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