The Older Adults Liaison Officer focuses on the safety, protection, and advocacy of the district's senior population. Their role combines social welfare coordination with criminal investigation to prevent the victimization and neglect of older residents.
Here is a summary of their core responsibilities:
1. Safety Programs & Wellness
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Emergency Identification: Actively enrolls seniors in the Emergency Identification Program and maintains accurate records of identification bracelets in the CLEAR database.
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Proactive Checks: Conducts wellness checks in partnership with resource agencies and makes periodic visits to nursing homes and senior facilities to assess living conditions.
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Vulnerability Support: Identifies seniors living alone or in vulnerable situations to connect them with essential social services.
2. Investigation & Protection
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Abuse Oversight: Reviews case reports to identify patterns of physical abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, specifically within nursing homes and the broader community.
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Mandated Reporting: Acts as a formal bridge to state authorities, reporting cases of elder abuse to the Illinois Department on Aging and self-neglect to the Department of Family and Support Services.
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Detective Collaboration: Works closely with the Area Detective Division to track and address criminal patterns targeting the elderly.
3. Advocacy & Legal Support
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Victim Assistance: Provides direct support to victims of financial crimes by connecting them with legal and protective resources, such as the Public Guardian or the State’s Attorney’s Elder Abuse Unit.
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Court Navigation: Assists older adults through the legal process by coordinating with the Court Advocacy Program.
9th District Elder Person Liaison Officer
P.O James McAndrew
James.McAndrew@chicagopolice.org