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Each Year, Many Younger and Older Incapacitated Adults are Victims of Mistreatment by Family Members, Caregivers and Others Who are Responsible for Their Well Being.
Common Signs of Adult Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
• Burns, welts, scratches, bruises, cuts • Fractures, dislocations, sprains • Restrained, tied to bed or chair • Mistrust of others • Unsanitary or unsafe housing • Inappropriate or inadequate clothing • Malnourished • Lacks needed supervision • Untreated medical condition • Lacks dentures, glasses, hearing aids or medication • Severe anxiety, fearfulness, depression • Personal belongings are missing • Property or savings are mismanaged • Sudden change in will or power of attorney • Unpaid bills
Report Suspected Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation!
Who Is Eligible for Adult Protective Services?
APS can offer help to adults who are:
• 60 years of age or older; or • Incapacitated and age 18 - 59
What Are Adult Protective Services?
The Code of Virginia mandates providing protective services to adults.
Adult Protective Services:
• Investigates reports that an adult is abused, neglected, or exploited or at risk
• Can arrange a wide variety of health, housing, social, and legal services to stop and prevent further mistreatment; and when necessary, to provide protection to adults who are in emergency situations and who lack the capacity to consent to services. APS also refers matters to licensing, regulatory, or legal authorities for administrative action or criminal investigation.
What Information Should be Reported to APS?
Give the name, age and address or location of the adult whom you suspect is being abused, neglected or exploited. Provide as much information about the abusive situation as possible.
Will Anyone Know Who Reported?
Names cannot be revealed unless the reporter gives
permission or the court orders that the name be disclosed. Reports can also be made
anonymously. Reporters are immune from civil and criminal liability for making a good-faith report.
Mandated Reporters
• Virginia law requires MANDATED REPORTERS to report suspected abuse of adults to APS. These people must report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to APS immediately.
Following is a partial list of Mandated Reporters:
Nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals, funeral service providers, nursing home administrators, mental health providers, EMTs, law enforcement, and individuals or organizations who provide services to seniors or incapacitated adults. Find out if you are a Mandated Reporter!
• Fines up to $1,000 may be imposed if a mandated reporter does not report as required.
• Employers of mandated reporters must notify their employees of their reporting responsibilities.
• An employer may not prohibit an employee from reporting directly to APS.
• Suspicious deaths must be reported to law enforcement and the medical examiner.
Report Suspected Abuse!
Any person, including financial institutions, may report suspected abuse to APS. If you or someone you know is being mistreated, contact your local department of social services and ask for an APS worker, or you may call the 24-hour, toll-free hotline at : (888) 832-3858
Click Here to see some quick tips for avoiding scams.
There are more resources online at:
www.vadars.org
Common Signs of Adult Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
• Burns, welts, scratches, bruises, cuts • Fractures, dislocations, sprains • Restrained, tied to bed or chair • Mistrust of others • Unsanitary or unsafe housing • Inappropriate or inadequate clothing • Malnourished • Lacks needed supervision • Untreated medical condition • Lacks dentures, glasses, hearing aids or medication • Severe anxiety, fearfulness, depression • Personal belongings are missing • Property or savings are mismanaged • Sudden change in will or power of attorney • Unpaid bills
Report Suspected Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation!
Who Is Eligible for Adult Protective Services?
APS can offer help to adults who are:
• 60 years of age or older; or • Incapacitated and age 18 - 59
What Are Adult Protective Services?
The Code of Virginia mandates providing protective services to adults.
Adult Protective Services:
• Investigates reports that an adult is abused, neglected, or exploited or at risk
• Can arrange a wide variety of health, housing, social, and legal services to stop and prevent further mistreatment; and when necessary, to provide protection to adults who are in emergency situations and who lack the capacity to consent to services. APS also refers matters to licensing, regulatory, or legal authorities for administrative action or criminal investigation.
What Information Should be Reported to APS?
Give the name, age and address or location of the adult whom you suspect is being abused, neglected or exploited. Provide as much information about the abusive situation as possible.
Will Anyone Know Who Reported?
Names cannot be revealed unless the reporter gives
permission or the court orders that the name be disclosed. Reports can also be made
anonymously. Reporters are immune from civil and criminal liability for making a good-faith report.
Mandated Reporters
• Virginia law requires MANDATED REPORTERS to report suspected abuse of adults to APS. These people must report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to APS immediately.
Following is a partial list of Mandated Reporters:
Nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals, funeral service providers, nursing home administrators, mental health providers, EMTs, law enforcement, and individuals or organizations who provide services to seniors or incapacitated adults. Find out if you are a Mandated Reporter!
• Fines up to $1,000 may be imposed if a mandated reporter does not report as required.
• Employers of mandated reporters must notify their employees of their reporting responsibilities.
• An employer may not prohibit an employee from reporting directly to APS.
• Suspicious deaths must be reported to law enforcement and the medical examiner.
Report Suspected Abuse!
Any person, including financial institutions, may report suspected abuse to APS. If you or someone you know is being mistreated, contact your local department of social services and ask for an APS worker, or you may call the 24-hour, toll-free hotline at : (888) 832-3858
Click Here to see some quick tips for avoiding scams.
There are more resources online at:
www.vadars.org