FIGURES published by the director of social work in the Borders reveal a big jump in the number of adults referred for protection – up over 12 months from 133 to 292.
Andrew Lowe says in his annual report out today that one reason is a change in the way medication errors are recorded.
Mr Lowe says the figure reflects improved reporting and awareness but with a rise in reports from residential settings.
Reasons for referral were : physical harm (24 per cent); financial or material harm (21 per cent); acts of omission or neglect (20 per cent); psychological abuse (12 per cent); sexual abuse (5 per cent) and self harm or neglect (5 per cent).