After experiencing about a five-year period of dormancy, the Bowie County Senior Adult Protective Services Advisory Board of Directors is back in business.
The county initially had an APS Advisory Board in place and active between 2002 and 2012. However, with a number of board members leaving the county and the inability to appoint new members in a timely fashion, this lead to the board being dissolved in 2012.
Board members started to meet again within the last couple of months.
"This is a result of a community effort to reactivate the board in order to bring about community awareness to the problem of elder abuse as well as help the community identify it, combat it and prevent it," said Board Chairman Doug Bowers. "We also help involve the community in learning more about elder abuse and we can identify any and all resources available in the community to help stop and prevent this sort of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of the elderly."
Last month, board members met to announce that June 15 is the worldwide date set aside and recognized as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The board also discussed during their May 24 meeting the number of board members needed to serve, but agreed to table action on the deciding on and identifying an exact number needed until their next meeting set for June 28.
Prior to the board's meeting last month, Bowers asked for and received a proclamation from the Bowie County Commissioners Court establishing May as Elder Abuse Prevention Month. During the May 8 Commissioners Court meeting, Bowers told commissioners that Texas State Adult Protective Services case workers in Bowie County received 377 cases and confirmed 268 of those cases in 2016.
"Your proclamation would lend official recognition to the important work of educating the public about elder abuse," Bowers told commissioners. "It would also emphasize you personal commitment to help protect elderly health, safety and rights."
For more information, call Bowers at 903-838-0751.