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.

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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?