Adult Protective Services, or APS, is here to help older adults and adults with disabilities who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Our services focus on safety, support, and connecting clients with the resources they need. APS connects clients with the right resources while respecting their independence.
The APS Hotline (877) 565-2020 is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, 365-days per year.
- About APSAbout APS
- Report Suspected Abuse or NeglectReport Suspected Abuse or Neglect
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- Annual ConferenceAnnual Conference
Who We Serve
- Older adults aged 60 years and older
- Dependent adults aged 18 to 59 with physical or behavioral conditions
- Eligible individuals may live in private homes, hospitals, hotels, or face the risk of homelessness
APS services are available to all, regardless of income. There is no charge for APS services.
What We Do
Our APS professionals respond to reports of:
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Financial exploitation
- Sexual abuse
We offer direct support, including advocacy, referrals, and coordination of services like counseling, safe housing, and financial guidance.
For assistance 24-hours a day, 7-days per week, 365-days per year, please call (877) 565-2020.
How We Do It
APS works around the clock, collaborating with law enforcement, healthcare providers, and community organizations to protect at-risk adults. Our toll-free hotline ensures help is always available.
Why We Do It
Supporting older and disabled adults who experience abuse, neglect, or exploitation is a legal, moral, and societal responsibility.
We strive to help older and dependent adults live free from harm, with access to the resources and care they deserve.
What is abuse or neglect?
Abuse has many definitions and forms, some visible, some invisible. Examples of abuse that must be reported are:
- Physical: hitting, kicking, burning, dragging, over or under medicating
- Sexual Abuse: unwanted sexual contact, sexual exploitation, forced viewing of pornography
- Abandonment: desertion or willful forsaking by anyone having responsibility for care
- Isolation: preventing the individual from receiving mail, telephone calls, visitors
- Financial: theft, misuse of funds or property, extortion, duress, fraud
- Neglect: failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, or health care for an individual under one’s care when the means to do so are available
- Self-neglect: failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, or health care for oneself
- Mental suffering: verbal assaults, threats, causing fear
- Abduction: removal from this state and restraint from returning to this state of any elder of dependent adult
Who can report suspected abuse or neglect?
- Client
- Cross report
- Mandated reporter
- Law enforcement
- Concerned individual
What happens after a report is made?
- Intake
- Screening
- Investigation
- Case management
- Case closure
Report by phone
To report suspected abuse or neglect 24-hours a day, 7-days per week, 365-days per year, please call (877) 565-2020.
Investigations
We investigate reports of physical abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and self-neglect to ensure clients’ safety.
Advocacy and Stabilization
We help clients access community resources, government programs, health services, and mental health support. In urgent situations, we may provide emergency essentials like food, transportation, or shelter when no other options are available.
Money Management Support
We protect clients from financial abuse by investigating exploitation and helping them establish safeguards, such as appointing a representative payee to manage their finances.
Safe Housing Assistance
When clients can no longer live safely at home, we help them find appropriate housing options, such as emergency shelters, board-and-care facilities, or long-term care.
Capacity Assessments
For clients who may be unable to manage their affairs, we arrange capacity assessments to determine if conservatorship or additional support is needed.
Training for Mandated Reporters
Free 90-minute online training for mandated reporters.
Mandated Reporting – Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse and Neglect in California
Denuncia Obligatoria – Abuso y negligencia de ancianos y adultos dependientes en California
Financial Abuse Uniform Reporting Portal
HelpVul is a platform that addresses suspected abuse of vulnerable adults by harnessing secure technology to connect financial services, APS, regulators, state programs, and law enforcement.
Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings (MDTs)
A multidisciplinary team includes professionals trained to prevent, identify, and treat abuse of elderly or dependent adults. These experts work together to provide comprehensive support for abuse cases.
Team members may include:
- Behavioral health professionals (e.g., psychiatrists, psychologists)
- Law enforcement officers
- Medical professionals
- Social workers with relevant experience
- Public guardians
Annual Multi-Disciplinary Team Conference
The annual conference, held in May, is an opportunity for County and community-based providers to expand their knowledge, share best practices, and strengthen collaborative relationships in support of older adults and individuals with disabilities.
The conference features educational workshops and training on various aging-related topics for public and private sector professionals. This all-day event also provides networking opportunities for attendees to strengthen connections and develop innovative approaches to delivering comprehensive services for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
Please contact us for more information about the 2026 event.