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Adult Protective Services (APS)
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888-202-4CIU
Business Hours, recommended
877-4-R-SENIORS
After hours and during holidays
TDD
800-660-4026 |
Program Description
Adult Protective Services (APS) is a State mandated Title XX service
program which mandates the prompt investigation
of all situations involving elders
(age 65 or older) and dependent adults
(physically or mentally impaired 18-64 year old) who are reported
to be endangered by physical, sexual or financial abuse,
abandonment, isolation, abduction, neglect or self-neglect or hazardous living conditions.
Upon receipt of such a report, an APS Social Worker will make a
face-to-face contact with the client in order to investigate and make an
assessment of the situation.
When necessary, the social worker will seek the assistance of law
enforcement to gain access to the client or to obtain protection in
violent situations.
If the client is endangered, mentally competent and willing to
cooperate, the worker will assist the client and other interested parties
in eliminating or reducing the endangerment through providing short-term
crisis intervention services. This includes connecting the client with
other available resources in the community for ongoing follow-up services.
Other than for the activities associated with the investigation of
alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the client, the services of
this program are voluntary and can be provided only with the clients'
consent.
If the client is endangered but not mentally competent, and has no one
to act on his or her behalf, the worker will attempt to arrange for
conservatorship for the client through the Office of the Public Guardian
of the Department of Mental Health. 
Persons Eligible
Any endangered adult 18 and over is eligible for and may request Adult
Protective Services without regard to income.
Referrals for Adult Protective Services may also be made on behalf of
individuals by community agencies, social workers, relatives, or other
concerned individuals.
Definitions
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An endangered
adult is any elder or dependent adult alleged to have been
abused or neglected by another, or any other individual age 18 or
older who is exposed to harm which could result in death, disability,
irreparable damage, severe pain or serious financial loss and, due to
impairment, is unable to protect or remove himself from that harm. |
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An elder
is any person 65 years of age or older. |
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A dependent
adult is any person between the ages of 18 and 64 who has
physical or mental limitations which restrict his or her ability to
carry out normal activities or to protect his or her rights. These
individuals include, but are not limited to, those who have physical
or developmental disabilities or whose physical or mental abilities
have diminished because of age. |
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An impairment
is any condition, whether mental, physical, or psychological,
permanent or temporary, which so immobilizes the client or limits his
ability to protect himself or utilize community resources that he
cannot remove himself from danger. These conditions include:
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Physical impairments
such as blindness, deafness, poor health, frailty, or the lack of
use of one's arms or legs, among other conditions; |
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Mental impairments such
as delusional thinking, loss of memory, confusion, or lack of
mental competency, etc.; |
| Psychological impairments which immobilize the
client, such as severe depression, feelings of helplessness,
feelings of intimidation in dealing with authority figures or
service providers, or fear of retaliation by abusers. |
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Service Activities
The following are some of the specific activities an APS worker
performs in assisting recipients of Adult Protective Services:
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Mobilizes or obtains the assistance of
emergency personnel such as law enforcement or paramedics in
life-threatening situations; |
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Investigates abuse reports in order to
assess the degree of abuse involved and the willingness of the
victim and the abuser to accept help; |
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Arranges for available temporary emergency
shelter of respite care services for those endangered by an abusive
environment; |
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Provides counseling and information and
referral services; |
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Provides liaison services to assist the
client in communicating or dealing more effectively with people or
agencies, like landlords, doctors, hospitals and creditors; |
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Advocates on behalf of the client in
situations where he cannot act effectively on his own behalf; |
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Arranges for services on behalf of the
clients with other service agencies; |
| Consults with other professionals.
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Example of APS Situations
Examples of situations responded to through the APS program are those
involving clients reported to be:
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Unconscious, immobilized or in severe pain
and in need of immediate medical attention or hospitalization; |
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Severely malnourished or dehydrated; |
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Tied, chained, locked up or otherwise
physically restrained or confined; |
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Exposed to a life-threatening health or
safety hazard; |
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Severely mentally or emotionally disturbed
and a serious danger to themselves or others; |
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Physically or sexually assaulted; |
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Threatened with imminent eviction and/or
serious financial loss due to exploitation by another
or inability to handle finances; |
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Deprived of adequate food or clothing; |
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Unable to obtain or utilize needed medical
or psychiatric care; |
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Living in conditions which represent a
serious or chronic health or safety hazard; |
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Subjected to threats, harassment, or other
forms of psychological abuse; |
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Prevented from communicating with others; |
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Systematically exploited or deprived of
their income or other resources; |
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Unable to perform the basic activities of
daily living. |
Indicators of Possible Abuse
Please see our Elder
Abuse page.
A comprehensive bibliography of Elder Abuse Web sites offering local
telephone numbers, indicators of possible abuse and advice on how to
report abuse locally can be found in the Open
Directory Project.
How to Contact APS
Call the Central Intake Unit during business hours at:
(888) 202-4CIU (recommended)
FAX Number for referrals:
(213) 738-6485 (preferred for mandated reporters)
Or call the Hotline after hours and during holidays at:
(877) 4-R-SENIORS
You can find contact information to report Elder Abuse and Neglect in other
Counties in the California
State APS Roster (in pdf format).
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