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Seniors
Children and Family Services
 
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What would you like to do?

What would you like to do?

What you need to know

What would you like to do?

What you need to know

What you need to know

Report abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult

Call the Hotline at (800) 652-1999


Adult Protective Services (APS) meets the needs of vulnerable adults and helps protect them from abuse, neglect and exploitation. 
  • Eligibility includes persons who are:
    • 18 years of age or older and have a substantial functional or mental impairment (a condition that impairs a person's ability to live independently or provide self-care without services) OR
    • 18 years of age or older and have a guardian that was appointed by the Nebraska Probate Code AND
    • There are allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation, including self-neglect.

 


Signs of Abuse

  • Injuries that cannot be explained or the explanation doesn't make sense;
  • Fractures, bruises, cuts, burns;
  • Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases;
  • Changes in behaviors around certain individuals;
  • Unpaid bills despite having enough money to pay them;
  • ATM withdrawals that don't match the person's lifestyle or ability;
  • Forged checks or checks for services not used by the person;
  • Missing or stolen medications;
  • Lack of food, proper clothing, shelter, or medicine;
  • Unsafe shelter (rotting floors, exposed wiring, fire hazards);
  • Lack of proper supervision;
  • Poor hygiene (untrimmed nails, matted hair, odor, soiled clothing)
  • Untreated bedsores or other untreated medical issues.

What to expect when reporting

  • When you call the Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline or law enforcement, please be prepared to provide as much detailed information as you can, including:
    • Name
    • Address
    • Current and previous concerns
    • Others who may have knowledge of the abuse or neglect.
  • Your name will remain confidential. We will only share it with law enforcement, the county attorney and DHHS Licensure Unit, if appropriate.
  • Mandatory Reporters: People in certain professions must, by law, report if they suspect abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation.  They include:
    • Doctors, physician's assistants, other medical personnel
    • Psychologists and other mental health professionals
    • Developmental disability professionals
    • Law enforcement 
    • Caregivers or employees of caregivers
    • Operators or employees of sheltered workshops
    • Human services professionals or paraprofessionals
    • Owners, operators or employees of any facility licensed by DHHS
  • For any other persons who suspect abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation, we highly encourage them to report it to the hotline.

APS Involvement

APS can:

  • Investigate reports of abuse, neglect, self-neglect and exploitation
  • Provide information to the county attorney
  • Assist law enforcement in investigations
  • Obtain court orders for involuntary services
  • Make referrals to the community for services for the client
  • Help the client receive needed items such as food, clothing and utilities
  • Connect caregivers and family members with needed services such as respite services, developmental disabilities services, behavioral health services or aging services.

APS cannot:

  • Investigate a report or provide services when people are competent and able to care for themselves
  • Investigate or provide services when there is no abuse, neglect, exploitation or self-neglect
  • Become someone's guardian or conservator
  • Remove someone from their home without their agreement (or the agreement of their legal representative)