Section 270.240  Intake of ANE Reports

a)         The following agencies are authorized to receive ANE reports:

1)         Illinois Department on Aging's Senior HelpLine;

2)         "After Hours" Line;

3)         Regional administrative agencies; and

4)         Elder abuse provider agencies.

b)         An elder abuse provider agency receiving a report of ANE shall assign a priority to the report in accordance with the following:

1)         Priority one reports are reports of abuse or neglect where the older person is alleged to be in serious physical harm or in immediate danger of death or serious physical harm.  Priority one reports include, but are not limited to, the following:

A)        physical abuse such as fractures, head injuries, internal injuries, or burns, when the injury is of a serious nature, such as to require medical treatment;

B)        threats of serious injury or death;

C)        lack of basic physical necessities severe enough to result in freezing, serious heat stress or starvation;

D)        immediate medical attention is needed to treat conditions that could result in irreversible physical damages such as unconsciousness, acute pain, or severe respiratory distress;

E)         alleged sexual abuse that has occurred in the last 72 hours;

F)         threats of sexual abuse where the alleged abuser has access to the victim; and

G)        punishment by the alleged abuser, such as locking the alleged victim in the closet.

2)         Priority two reports are reports alleging that an older person is being abused, neglected or exploited and the report taker has reason to believe that the consequences are less serious than priority one reports.  Priority two reports include, but are not limited to, the following:

A)        physical abuse involving scratches or bruises;

B)        inadequate attention to physical needs such as insufficient food or medicine;

C)        unreasonable confinement; and

D)        probability of liquidation or depletion of an alleged victim's income and assets.

3)         Priority three reports are reports alleging that an older person is being emotionally abused by a caregiver or the older person's financial resources are being misused or withheld and the report taker has reason to believe that there is no immediate threat of harm to the alleged victim.

c)         If a report includes allegations or conditions of more than one priority, the agency that has received the report assigns it to the higher priority.

d)         An agency that is not an elder abuse provider agency shall forward the report to the appropriate elder abuse provider agency within the required time frame.

e)         The elder abuse provider agency is directed to respond to reports of ANE within required time frames, including making a good faith attempt to conduct a face-to-face visit with the alleged victim.

f)          The required time frames for each priority are:  for "priority one" reports, 24 hours from the receipt of the report; "priority two" reports, 72 hours from the receipt of the report; and for "priority three" reports, seven calendar days from the receipt of the report.

g)         The following exceptions shall apply and extend the time frames specified by that priority:

1)         The alleged victim of the "priority one" report has been admitted to the hospital, in which case the required response time for a face-to-face visit is extended from 24 hours to the following work day.

2)         The report is a "priority two" or "priority three" report, the elder abuse case worker is likely to be in danger, and a police officer or appropriate other is called to investigate or escort the worker.  An "appropriate other" escort may be, but is not limited to, a mental health professional, health professional, or significant relative.  The required response time for a face-to-face visit is then extended until such a time as the police officer or "appropriate other" is available, not to exceed three days beyond the required response time established for the priority.

3)         The client does not wish or consent to a face-to-face visit within the time frame.

(Source:  Amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 3964, effective March 15, 2002)