Adult Protective services.
Investigating and responding to abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities across Kane, Kendall, and McHenry Counties.
On July 1, 2013, State of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into effect the Adult Protective Services Act. House Bill 948 includes some of the nation's strongest safeguards to protect older adults and those with disabilities and ensures that every case of suspected abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation is thoroughly investigated and promptly referred to law enforcement.
Responsibility for investigating abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of persons with disabilities (age 18–59) and persons age 60 and above falls to the Adult Protective Services unit of the Illinois Department on Aging.
Many older adults and persons with disabilities who live at home are at risk of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation by family members and others close to them. The abused are often too afraid, ashamed, depressed, confused, or weak to speak up for themselves — their lives may depend on others speaking up for them.
Senior Services Associates investigates allegations of physical and emotional abuse, financial exploitation, confinement, sexual abuse, passive neglect, and willful deprivation. As the Adult Protective Services Provider Agency of the Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, our certified case manager investigators represent and protect seniors and persons with disabilities while working with local authorities to eliminate the abusive situation and sustain quality of life.
Suspect abuse? Make the call.
Call 911 immediately if the person is in imminent danger. Otherwise, contact your local office or the statewide hotline below.
What is considered abuse?
The Adult Protective Services Program responds to the following types of abuse:
Physical abuse
Causing the infliction of physical pain or injury to an eligible adult.
Sexual abuse
Touching, fondling, sexual threats, sexually inappropriate remarks, or any other sexual activity with an eligible adult when he or she is unable to understand, unwilling to consent, threatened or physically forced to engage in sexual behavior.
Emotional abuse
Verbal assaults, threats of maltreatment, harassment or intimidation intended to compel the eligible adult to engage in conduct from which they wish and have a right to abstain, or to refrain from conduct in which they wish and have the right to engage.
Confinement
Restraining or isolating, without authority, an eligible adult for other than medical reasons, as ordered by a physician.
Passive Neglect
Another individual's failure to provide an eligible adult with the necessities of life — food, clothing, shelter, or medical care — because of failure to understand needs, lack of awareness of services, or a lack of capacity to care for the adult.
Willful Deprivation
Deliberate denial of medications, medical care, shelter, food, therapeutic devices, or other physical assistance to a person who, because of age, health, or disability, requires such assistance, exposing them to risk of physical, mental, or emotional harm.
Financial Exploitation
The use of an eligible adult's resources by another to the disadvantage of that adult or the profit or advantage of a person other than the adult.
Self Neglect
A condition that is the result of an eligible adult's inability, due to physical or mental impairments or diminished capacity, to perform essential self-care tasks that substantially threaten their own health and safety.
Reporting abuse
To report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an eligible adult, call the statewide 24-hour Abuse Hotline at (866) 800-1409 or (888) 206-1327. Callers should be prepared to report the alleged victim's name and address, what is occurring, where and when the incident occurred, and who the suspected abuser might be. Reporting is voluntary for most individuals; certain professionals are mandated reporters.
The Adult Protective Services Act (Chapter 320 ILCS 20/1 et seq.) provides that people who in good faith report suspected abuse or cooperate with an investigation are immune from criminal or civil liability or professional disciplinary action. The identity of the reporter is not disclosed except with the reporter's written permission or by order of the court. Anonymous reports are accepted.
Who are mandated reporters of abuse?
The following persons, while engaged in carrying out their professional duties, are mandated reporters: a professional or professional's delegate engaged in social services, law enforcement, education, or the care of eligible adults; or any of the occupations licensed under the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Illinois Dental Practice Act, the Dietetic and Nutrition Services Practice Act, the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Naprapathic Practice Act, the Illinois Nursing Act of 1987, the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act, the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act, the Optometric Practice Act of 1987, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987, the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing Act, the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 1994, and the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Also included: employees of vocational rehabilitation facilities; administrators, employees, or persons providing services in or through an unlicensed community-based facility; Christian Science Practitioners; field personnel of the Departments of Public Aid, Public Health, Human Services, and any county or municipal health department; personnel of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, the State Fire Marshal, local fire departments (including paramedics and EMTs), the Department on Aging and its subsidiary Area Agencies on Aging and provider agencies, and the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman; any State of Illinois employee involved in providing services to eligible adults, including medical or rehabilitation professionals; and persons who perform the duties of a coroner or medical examiner.
Help Improve Seniors' Lives
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