Adult Protective Services

APS offers protective services to any person who is 60 years of age or older, or any dependant adult between the ages of 18 and 59 who are at risk for abuse, neglected or exploitation by themselves or others. APS investigates reports of alleged abuse and can help the older or dependant adult obtain additional supportive services. The focus of APS is to help support older and disabled adults remain in their own home.

Reporting

Anyone can make a confidential report if they suspect an older adult or dependant adult who lives in Napa County, is experiencing abuse or self-neglect. If you are a non-mandated reporter, your report can remain anonymous.

Please call 707-253-4398 or (toll free) 888-619-6913

Reports that do not involve physical abuse or do not require immediate attention can also be made online here.

Services

In-person emergency response, 24 hours a day, seven days per week, to reports involving immediate life threats of an elder or a dependent adult
Information and referral
Needs assessments
Remedial and preventative social work activities
Emergency shelter
In-home protection
Tangible support services, as resources allow, which may include emergency food, clothing, repair or replacement of essential appliances, plumbing and electrical repair, blankets, linens and other household goods, advocacy with utility companies, and emergency response units.

Types of Abuse

Physical, Sexual, Financial, Psychological and Mental Suffering.
Neglect by Others - Neglect, Abandonment, Isolation, and Abduction.
Self Neglect - Physical and Medical Care, Health and Safety Hazards, and Malnutrition and / or Dehydration.

24 Hour Neglect or Abuse Emergency Response Hotline

Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 707-253-4398
Nights and Weekends Phone: 888-619-6913

Please call if you suspect that an elder or dependent adult is being physically abused, neglected, or financially exploited or report Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse online PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF .

Por favor llame si sospecha que un anciano o un adulto dependiente está siendo abusado físicamente, descuidado o explotado financieramente. Reporte en Español aqui (PDF). PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF

Also contact us if you believe that an elder or dependent adult is self neglecting due to diminished mental capacity or physical limitations. You do not have to give us your name or other personal information for us to investigate the allegations, unless you are a mandated reporter.

Signs of Risk

Alcohol, drug abuse, mental illness in caregiver’s residence
Caregiver is alienated, socially isolated and has poor self image
Caregiver is young, immature, and behavior indicates own dependency needs are not being met
Caregiver is forced by circumstances to care for victim who is unwanted
Caregiver is unemployed, without sufficient funds, dependent on victim for housing / money
Caregiver has unrealistic expectations of victim
Prolonged interval between trauma / illness and presentation for medical care
Victim is brought in to emergency room by someone other than caregiver (police, neighbors)
Caregiver / adult child has difficulty with role reversal
Caregiver or victim exhibits abnormal behavior, e.g. overtly hostile or frustrated, secretive, shows little concern, demonstrates poor self control, victim "blames" victim, exhibits exaggerated defensiveness and denial, lacks physical facial or eve contact, shows over-concern regarding correcting bad behavior
Caregiver or victim has alcohol on breath or victim appears overly medicated
Victim is withdrawing from family, friends, and social support
Victim seems to be putting affairs in order and closing down personal, social, and professional relationships (If this follows a crisis or period of depression it may be an indicator of suicide)
There has been a sudden or dramatic change in victim’s behavior and / or mental and / or physical health
Victim has repeated injuries or illnesses
Victim’s explanations for behavior / injuries / illnesses are inconsistent with observed behaviors / injuries / illnesses, or victim changes explanations

Mandated Reporter Guidelines

A mandated reporter is any person who has assumed full or intermittent responsibility for care or custody of an elder or dependent adult, whether or not the person receives compensation, including administrators, supervisors, and any licensed staff of a public or private facility that provides care or services for elder or dependent adults, or any elder or dependent adult care custodian, health practitioner, employee of a financial institution or employee of a county adult protective services agency or local law enforcement agency. Failure to report physical abuse, abandonment, isolation, financial abuse, or neglect of an elder or dependent adult, is a misdemeanor. If the abuse results in death or great bodily injury, and the mandated reporter willfully fails to report then it is punishable by not more than one year in a county jail or by fine or both.

FAQs

Does Adult Protective Services evaluate all adults and protect anyone who is thought to be abused?

Adult Protective Services only evaluates adults who are 65 or older or a person 18 to 64 years who is considered to be dependent due to a physical or mental disability, which prevents or limits that individual from carrying out normal activities or protecting his or her rights. For further information, contact us at 707-253-4398.

If the Adult Protective Services social worker confirms that a dependent adult or elderly person is not safe in their home, can they remove him or her and place the person in a safer environment?

Adult Protective Services (APS) can only remove a person from an unsafe home on a voluntary basis. If the person is mentally competent and understands the risk of remaining in the unsafe home, APS has no jurisdiction. If the client is thought to be mentally incompetent APS must take legal steps through the court to determine whether a conservatorship or surrogate decision-maker is necessary. If the client appears to be "gravely disabled" as defined in the Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 5000, et sequentes, a mental health worker can be called to evaluate and determine if the client can be removed from the home and detained for psychiatric observation. For further information, contact us at 707-253-4398.

Does an APS worker locate housing for the homeless or individuals being evicted from their homes?

Adult Protective Services does not have the resources to locate independent housing for elderly or dependent adults who are being evicted or are already homeless. APS can assess the client for out of home care in a board and care home, assisted living, etc. and try to facilitate placement. APS also makes referrals to agencies which assist clients with emergency housing, referrals to shelters, to the Napa Housing Authority, and other organizations serving the homeless, including the homeless coordinator. For further information, contact us at 707-253-4398.

What legal protections are offered to clients of domestic abuse? What does domestic abuse cover?

Adult Protective Services (APS) will help evaluate older and dependent adults who are abused by their domestic partners. The normal, most effective route would be for the abused to call law enforcement, report such incidents to their physician, the hospital, or to the Napa Emergency Women’s Shelter. They would then be in the protective system regarding housing, legal regress, etc. APS usually receives calls from one of the organizations mentioned above to help the client with other protective issues following the initial intervention.

Included in the broad domestic abuse definition would be clients abused by other family members who are in a care-giving role. This could include a spouse, daughter, or son living in the home who commits abuse against the victim while acting in the role as their caregiver. For further information, contact us at 707-253-4398.

If there is no responsible relative or other individual willing or available to sign admission forms for a confused patient transferring from the hospital into a nursing home, will APS sign the forms?

Adult Protective Services (APS) will not sign admission forms for a confused client who is in need of a nursing home. If the client is too confused to give informed consent, the client’s physician could authorize the transfer as long as:

Arrangements have been made in advance for admission to such health facility
A determination has been made by the patient’s physician that such a transfer or discharge would not create a medical hazard to the patient
The patient or the person legally responsible for the patient has been notified, or attempts have been made over the 24-hour period prior to the patient’s transfer and the legally responsible person cannot be reached (Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, section 70717)

For further information, contact us at 707-253-4398.