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.

Show All Answers

1. Does Adult Protective Services evaluate all adults and protect anyone who is thought to be abused?
2. 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?
3. Does an APS worker locate housing for the homeless or individuals being evicted from their homes?
4. What legal protections are offered to clients of domestic abuse? What does domestic abuse cover?
5. 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?
6. What kind of money management does Adult Protective Services offer?
7. If I report my suspicions about an abuse, but do not have proof, what will happen to me and can I remain anonymous?
8. If Adulcannot get voluntary cooperation from a client who has been determined to be too frail to handle their financial affairs, or resist undue influence, does APS automatically refer such cases for
9. What is the difference between an Lanterman-Petris-Short and a Probate Conservatorship?
10. Does Adult Protective Services find caregivers to go into the home of a frail client?
11. How quickly can we expect a social worker to respond to a report that is not an emergency?
12. What is an emergency response case?