San Antonio Strengthens Fight Against Elder Abuse with New Training
Published on March 20, 2025
SAN ANTONIO (March 20, 2025) – Progress continues on the City of San Antonio’s Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation Training and Reporting initiative, as outlined during the March 19 City Council B Session presentation by Jessica Dovalina, Assistant Director of the City’s Department of Human Services (DHS). During the session, Bexar County Judge Veronica Vasquez and DHS provided an update to City Council on the initiative’s progress and next steps.
The initiative stems from a Council Consideration Request (CCR) filed by District 6 Councilmember Melissa Cabello Havrda in December 2023, leading to policy discussions and actions to strengthen protections for older adults in Bexar County.
“The safety and well-being of our older adults is a priority, and we are committed to equipping our City staff with the training and tools necessary to recognize and report abuse effectively,” said Councilmember Cabello Havrda. “The rise in elder abuse cases in Bexar County underscores the urgency of this work.”
Over the past ten years, allegations of elder abuse reported to Adult Protective Services (APS) in Bexar County have increased by 41%, with the county experiencing the highest rate of investigations per 1,000 older adults among Texas’ largest counties. To address this growing concern, DHS and APS have launched an online training program that provides guidance on recognizing and reporting physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and financial exploitation. This training initially targeted 10 City departments and aims to be fully implemented by May 2, 2025.
Appreciation is extended to Judge Veronica Vasquez and Ana Cortez, APR Director, for their dedication to this initiative and efforts to safeguard San Antonio’s older adults.
“This is a collective effort, and I am grateful to Judge Vasquez, Ana Cortez, and all our partners for their leadership in ensuring that elder abuse prevention remains a top priority in our city,” said Councilmember Cabello Havrda.
Next steps include promoting the training to all City employees who come in contact with seniors. DHS and APS will continue to provide education, training, and resources to support this critical initiative.
Report elder abuse at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website.