Protecting Elder and Dependent Adults
The Adult Protective Services (APS) program helps elder and dependent adults who are victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. APS investigates reports of abuse and provides services to prevent and remedy abuse or neglect.
Reporting Abuse
Anyone may report known or suspected elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect to APS. APS receives and responds to reports of abuse or neglect of elders (age 65 or older) and dependent adults (ages 18 to 64 with physical or mental limitations).
If you are concerned that someone you care about may be the victim of abuse, don’t be silent. Here are some signs that could indicate elder abuse:
- Lack of basic amenities
- Cluttered, filthy living environment
- Unexplained or uncharacteristic in behavior
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases
- Unpaid bills, new credit cards and/or increased cash withdrawals
- Harassment, coercion, intimidation, humiliation
- Caregiver isolates elder
Report Abuse
LA County Adult Protective Service team provides a system of in person response, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. REPORT IT NOW!
Elder Abuse Hotline Call: 1-877-4R SENIORS (1-877-477-3646)
Long Term Care Ombudsman Related Reports Call : 1-800-334-9473
Mandated Reporters of Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse may submit their Non-Emergency or Non Life threatening reports online via the following :
What is Adult Protective Services (APS)?
Adult Protective Services (APS) is a social services program provided by state and/or local governments nationwide serving older adults who are 65 years and older and adults with disabilities who need assistance. APS workers investigate cases of abuse, neglect or exploitation, working closely with a wide variety of allied professionals such as physicians, nurses, paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement officers.
How APS Helps?
Most seniors and adults with disabilities live independently without assistance, however, some face abuse or neglect by others and need trained professionals to advocate on their behalf. Others may simply be struggling with routine activities and benefit from in-home support services to maintain their health and independence. APS helps by assessing each individual’s unique needs, then developing a service plan to maintain his/her safety, health and independence.
What are the rights of the APS clients regarding receiving protective services?
A protective services client who has the capacity to consent has the right to:
- Receive voluntary protective services if he requests or consents to those services;
- Participate in all decisions regarding his welfare, if able to do so;
- Choose the lease restrictive alternative that meets his needs; and
- Refuse medical treatment if it conflicts with his religious beliefs and practices
Types of Abuse
Mandated reporters must report the following types of elder/dependent adult abuse:
Abandonment
Abandonment is the desertion or willful forsaking of an elder/dependent adult by anyone having care or custody of that person under circumstances in which a reasonable person would continue to provide care and custody (WIC 15610.05).
Abduction
Abduction is the removal of an elder/dependent adult from California and the restraint from returning to California, or the restraint from returning to California when the elder/dependent adult does not have the capacity to consent to the removal/restraint or, when an elder/dependent adult is conserved and his/her conservator or the court has not consented to the removal/restraint (WIC 15610.06).
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is taking, hiding, or using the property of an elder/dependent adult wrongfully or with intent to defraud or both; assist in the taking, hiding, or using the property of an elder/dependent adult wrongfully or with intent to defraud or both; taking, hiding, or using the property of an elder/dependent adult by undue influence. (WIC 15610.30[a]).
Undue influence is excessive persuasion that causes another person to act or refrain from acting by overcoming that person’s free will and results in inequity (WIC 15610.70[a]).
Isolation
Isolation is deliberately preventing an elder/dependent adult from receiving his/her mail or phone calls; falsely telling a caller or visitor that an elder/dependent adult is not present or does not want to talk to him/her for the purpose of preventing the elder/dependent adult from having contact with family members, friends, or other concerned individuals; false imprisonment of the elder/dependent adult; and physical restraint of an elder/dependent adult for the purpose of preventing him/her from meeting with visitors.
Note: These acts may not constitute isolation if they are performed in accord with the instructions of a licensed physician or in response to a threat of danger to a person’s physical safety or property (WIC 15610.43).
Neglect
Neglect is the negligent failure of any person having the care or custody of an elder/dependent adult to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person in a similar position would provide.
Note: The definition of ‘neglect’ also includes self-neglect, which is the negligent failure of an elder/dependent adult to exercise the degree of self-care that a reasonable person in a like position would exercise (WIC 15610.57[a])
Physical Abuse
Physical Abuse is assault, battery, assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury, unreasonable physical constraint, prolonged or continual deprivation of food or water, sexual assault (which includes rape, rape in concert, spousal rape, incest, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, and lewd or lascivious acts), and use of a physical or chemical restraint or psychotropic medication for punishment, for a period beyond that for which the medication was ordered by the physician/surgeon providing medical care, or for any purpose not authorized by the physician/surgeon (WIC 15610.63).
For more information on APS or to request an APS In-Service Training for mandated reporters please visit Adult Protective Services (APS) or contact: 213-351-5395 (LA COUNTY).