This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances.

Adult Protective Services — What They Do and How They Help

Adult Protective Services is the agency that investigates suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults. When you call APS with concerns about your parent, you're hoping they'll investigate, stop the harm, and protect your parent. The reality of what APS does is more complicated than what you might assume. Understanding what APS actually is, what they can and can't do, and what to expect helps you know whether reporting is likely to help your parent.

Adult Protective Services operates under state law, so their authority and processes vary from state to state. In some states, APS is part of the child welfare system and handles both children and adults. In others, it's a separate program. Some states call it Adult Protective Services. Some call it something else. What they do is investigate reports of elder and vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment.

Understanding the Basics

Adult Protective Services is primarily a protective and investigative agency, not a criminal justice agency. Their goal is to stop abuse and protect your parent, not to punish the abuser. Law enforcement handles criminal prosecution. APS handles intervention and protection. These are different functions, and the outcomes are different.

When you report to APS, they will investigate. This means they'll contact your parent to assess the situation. They'll interview your parent and the alleged abuser. They'll look for evidence of abuse. They'll determine whether the situation meets the legal definition of abuse in your state. If it does, they'll work toward stopping it.

What APS can do depends on several things. They can remove a caregiver if the caregiver is harming your parent. They can require services like home health care or social services. They can obtain a protective order or restraining order. They can arrange for your parent to move to a safer living situation. They can mandate reporting to law enforcement if a crime has been committed. They can remove your parent from their home if necessary for safety.

What APS can't do is force your parent to accept help if your parent has capacity and refuses. An adult with legal capacity has the right to refuse services, even if refusing services results in harm. This is a hard reality when you're trying to protect your parent. You might be convinced your parent needs help, but if your parent is of sound mind and refuses, APS might be unable to intervene.

What APS also can't do is mandate criminal prosecution. They can report crimes to law enforcement, but law enforcement decides whether to investigate and prosecute. Some situations might be abuse but not be crimes. Some situations might be crimes but law enforcement chooses not to prosecute.

Your Parent's Specific Situation

What state does your parent live in? APS programs vary by state. You need to know your specific state's laws and what APS can do in your state.

Does your parent have legal capacity? If your parent has dementia or other cognitive impairment, APS has more authority to intervene without your parent's consent. If your parent is mentally sharp and refuses help, APS is limited.

Is your parent's life or health in immediate danger? If yes, APS might have urgent authority to intervene. If the situation is concerning but not immediately dangerous, intervention might be slower or more limited.

What specifically is the abuse or neglect? Financial exploitation, physical abuse, emotional abuse, medical neglect, self-neglect. Different types trigger different responses. Financial exploitation might result in control of finances. Physical abuse might result in criminal charges. Medical neglect might result in mandated medical care. The type of abuse determines what APS can do.

Is the abuser someone in your parent's home, or someone from outside? Caregiver abuse, family member abuse, someone who visits your parent. The abuser's relationship to your parent affects what intervention looks like.

Has your parent already told their story to someone who documented it? A doctor, a counselor, a hospital, police. If professionals have already noted concerns about abuse, APS has corroborating documentation.

Taking Next Steps

Contact Adult Protective Services in your parent's state or county. You can find the number by searching "Adult Protective Services [your state]" or by calling your state's health and human services department.

Prepare to describe the situation clearly. What abuse or neglect have you observed or learned about? When did it happen? Who is involved? What evidence do you have? Be specific and factual.

Be prepared to share your parent's information: name, address, age, phone number. The agency needs to contact your parent to assess the situation.

Understand that APS will contact your parent. The agency needs to interview your parent to assess whether abuse is occurring and whether your parent is safe. This might be uncomfortable. Your parent might be upset about being interviewed. This is part of the process.

Be prepared that you might not get updates about the investigation. Due to privacy laws, APS often can't share details about investigations with people who aren't your parent or aren't legally responsible for your parent. You report, the agency investigates, but you might not be told the outcome.

If you're the one your parent listed as a contact, you might get information. But even then, your parent's privacy matters and APS might not share details.

If you have follow-up information or you learn of new abuse, you can call APS again. Multiple reports create a pattern that might trigger stronger intervention.

If you believe APS's response is inadequate, you can file a complaint about how APS handled the situation. Each state has procedures for complaining about APS, usually through the state ombudsman or the department that oversees APS.

If your parent is in a facility, you might also contact the state health department's long-term care ombudsman. For community living situations, APS is the primary agency.

If the situation involves a crime, law enforcement should be contacted. APS and law enforcement might both be involved in the situation.

Adult Protective Services is an imperfect system. They're often underfunded, overworked, and dealing with complex situations where your parent's wishes conflict with your wishes, or where intervention is difficult even if abuse is confirmed. But APS is the official agency responsible for protecting vulnerable adults. If you suspect your parent is being abused, calling them is the right step.

How To Help Your Elders is an educational resource. We do not provide medical, legal, or financial advice. The information in this article is general in nature and may not apply to your specific situation. If you are concerned about a loved one's cognitive health or safety, consult with their healthcare provider or contact your local Area Agency on Aging for guidance and support.