{"id":520,"date":"2025-02-24T15:20:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T15:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/aps\/"},"modified":"2025-02-24T15:20:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T15:20:35","slug":"aps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/aps\/","title":{"rendered":"aps ~  Adult Protective Services  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n  \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/aps.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n\n      <\/a>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n\n      <h1><!--[type=EDIT name=\"Page Title\"]-->Adult Protective Services<!--[END]--><\/h1>\n\n\n    <\/header>\n\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n\n \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n            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href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n    <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">  \n         <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/aps.html\">Adult Protective Services<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/services.html\">All Services<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/caregivers_assistance.html\">Assistance for Caregivers<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/home_communitybased_services.html\">Home and Community-Based Services<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/information_support.html\">Information and Supports<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/residential_care.html\">Residential Care<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/rights_protections.html\">Rights and Protections<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" 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href=\"\/dsaapd\/espanol.html\">Informaci\u00f3n en Espa\u00f1ol <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/professi.html\">Information for Professionals<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/laws_and_regulations.html\">Laws and Regulations<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/medicare_fraud.html\"> Medicare Fraud <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/publica.html\">Publications and Forms<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/state_ltc_facilities.html\">State-Run Long Term Care Facilities <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/volopp.html\">Volunteer Opportunities<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul><\/li>\n<!--    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n  <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n    <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fa 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<\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n\n  <!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Adult Protective Services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>We are here to help you. Our services are voluntary. You can choose if you need services or not.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>We will not force you to move or do anything that you don\u2019t want to. We are here to help you live in a safe and healthy environment and receive the services you need. Please contact our office\u00a0at 1-888-277-4302 (1-888-APS-4302)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>if you need help or have any questions. For Delaware Relay services, dial 711.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>File a REPORT of HARM or ask for help<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p>Adult Protective Services helps to prevent or stop harm from occurring to vulnerable adults. Delaware law requires that protective services not affect adults who are capable of caring for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p>Delaware law defines <a href=\"http:\/\/delcode.delaware.gov\/title11\/c005\/sc05\/index.shtml\">vulnerable adult<\/a> as a person 18 years of age or older who, because of isolation, sickness, debilitation, mental illness or physical, mental or cognitive disability, is easily susceptible to abuse, neglect, mistreatment, intimidation, manipulation, coercion or exploitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Below are examples of things to report: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>People may suffer harm because they have been abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected or they have neglected their own care needs. Adult Protective Services will support people who have been harmed by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p><strong>Physical<\/strong> <strong>Abuse<\/strong> &#8211; inflicting physical pain or injury on a senior, e.g. slapping, bruising, or restraining by physical or chemical means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p><strong>Sexual<\/strong> <strong>Abuse<\/strong> &#8211; non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p><strong>Neglect<\/strong> &#8211; the failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p><strong>Exploitation<\/strong> &#8211; the illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable adult for someone else&#8217;s benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p><strong>Emotional<\/strong> <strong>Abuse<\/strong> &#8211; inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts, e.g. humiliating, intimidating, or threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p><strong>Abandonment<\/strong> &#8211; desertion of a vulnerable adult by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p><strong>Self-Neglect<\/strong> &#8211; means an adult&#8217;s inability, due to physical or mental impairment or diminished capacity, to perform essential self-care including obtaining essential food, clothing, shelter, and medical care; obtaining goods and services necessary to maintain physical health, mental health, or general safety; or managing one&#8217;s own financial affairs<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who are <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/delcode.delaware.gov\/title31\/c039\/index.shtml\">mandated reporters<\/a> <strong>required to make a Report of Harm?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p>Everyone has a duty to report if they suspect abuse, neglect or exploitation. However, there are certain groups of people who are required to do additional things. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n <ul>\n\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n\n  <p>Financial institutions who have direct contact with a vulnerable adult and have reasonable cause to believe that person may be subject to past, current or attempted financial exploitation, have a duty to report the alleged harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n\n  <p>Medical practitioners who have direct contact with a vulnerable adult and have reasonable cause to believe that the person may be subject to past, current or attempted abuse, neglect or exploitation have a duty to report the alleged harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n <\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What must be reported to Adult Protective Services?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Any incident in which a vulnerable adult is believed to be abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected or have neglected his or her own care needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To Whom Should Reports be Made?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Reports should be made to Adult Protective Services within 24 hours by calling\u00a0<strong><em>1-888-277-4302 (1-888-APS-4302) <\/em><\/strong>or by using the <a href=\"https:\/\/hssdeprod.wellsky.com\/assessments\/?WebIntake=9A2787C9-BDCF-449A-BFD7-59B32DD77BE7\">Adult Protective Services Online Submission Form<\/a>. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p>Financial institutions only: To make a referral to APS related to suspected financial exploitation, complete the\u00a0<a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/dsaapd\/doc\/aps_form_report_of_suspected_financila_exploitation.docx\">Report of Suspected Financial Exploitation Form.<\/a><\/p><p><strong>How is Confidentiality Protected?<\/strong><\/p><ul>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p>Investigative reports and reports of the abandonment, abuse, exploitation, neglect and self-neglect of a vulnerable adult are confidential cannot be accessed by the general public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p>Investigative reports may be used by appropriate agencies or individuals inside and outside of the state in connection with investigations or judicial proceeding involving the abandonment, abuse, exploitation, neglect or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>\n\n\n\n <p>Individuals who file a Report of Harm with Adult Protective Services will remain confidential. Reports may also be made anonymously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul><p><strong>More Resources<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/dsaapd\/pdf\/aging_and_disabilities_guide.pdf\">Guide to Services for Older Delawareans and Persons with Disabilities<\/a><br>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.delawareadrc.com\/ADRCSearch\/Search.aspx\">Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center Service Provider Search<\/a><\/p><p><strong>Related Links<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/ncea.acl.gov\/\">National Center on Elder Abuse<\/a><br>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.napsa-now.org\/\">National Adult Protective Services Association<\/a><br>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/elderjustice\">US Department of Justice &#8211; Elder Justice Initiative<\/a><br>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/vawnet.org\/special-collections\/DVLaterLife.php\">National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Preventing and Responding to Domestic and Sexual Violence in Later Life<\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"text-center bg-info\"><br>\n\n\n\n<strong>Call 1-888-277-4302 (1-888-APS-4302) or use the <a href=\"https:\/\/hssdeprod.wellsky.com\/assessments\/?WebIntake=9A2787C9-BDCF-449A-BFD7-59B32DD77BE7\">Adult Protective Services Online Submission Form<\/a>\u00a0if you have a concern about possible abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.\u00a0<br>\n\n\n\nFor Delaware Relay services, dial 711.<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>\n\n\n\n  <!--[END]-->\n\n\n  \n\n\n      <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Adult Protective Services Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities Menu Home About About DSAAPD Contact Information FAQs Useful Links Services Adult Protective Services All Services Assistance for Caregivers Home and Community-Based Services Information and Supports Residential Care Rights and Protections Information Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Advance Directives Alzheimer&#8217;s Toolkit Brain Injury and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-520","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/520\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}