Adult Protective Services (APS) for Ages 18-59 Living With Disabilities

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Services available for disabled adults between the ages of 18 and 59 who reside in one of  14 counties we serve in Illinois: Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Jefferson, Hamilton, Lawrence, Marion, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, and White
APS reports are taken during normal business hours at the offices listed below. For weekends, evenings, and holiday reporting, please use the 24-Hour Adult Protective Services Hotline: 866-800-1409. You may also leave a message on the office phones, and your call will be returned on the next business day.
Neglect, abuse, or financial exploitation of adults with disabilities is one of the least reported forms of family violence. SWAN Adult Protective Services is available to receive reports, legally intervene, and advocate for the victims of abuse or neglect who live in the community (not in a care facility). All reports and records of the APS program are subject to strict confidentiality provisions, except as provided by law or court order. Reports to APS may also be made on behalf of disabled adults who live in a domestic setting and are unable to care for themselves, which may substantially threaten their own lives, if they are unable to report for themselves.

For information about the rights of disabled adults living in long-term care facilities, or to make a report of abuse or neglect in a facility, please visit our Long-Term Care Ombudsman page.

What is considered abuse of a disabled adult?

Click the image above to view information from the IL Dept on Aging
Physical Abuse - physical injury or infliction of pain
Emotional Abuse - verbally assaulting, threatening, harassing, or intimidating a disabled adult to try to force or compel the victim to stop or limit his or her rightful behavior or actions
Sexual Abuse - any sexual activity a disabled adult is physically forced or coerced to engage in when the victim is unable to understand, unwilling to consent, or threatened
Confinement - isolating or restraining a disabled adult for any reason other than medical
Passive Neglect - the failure by a caregiver to provide a disabled adult with the necessities of life including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care because of failure to understand the victim's needs, a lack of awareness of services to help meet the victim's needs, or a lack of capacity to care for the disabled adult
Willful Deprivation - exposing a disabled adult to the risk of harm by willfully denying medication, medical care, shelter, food, therapeutic devices, or other physical assistance
Financial Exploitation - misusing or withholding a disabled adult's financial resources to the disadvantage of the victim and/or the profit or advantage of another person
Self-Neglect - disabled adults who lack the capacity to care or report for themselves, which may substantially threaten their own health

What information should a reporter of the abuse or neglect of a disabled adult be prepared to submit?

  • The alleged victim's name, address, telephone number, sex, age, and general condition.
  • The alleged abuser's name, sex, age, relationship to the victim, and condition.
  • The circumstances that lead the reporter to believe that the disabled adult, between the ages of 18 and 59, is being abused, neglected, or financially exploited, with as much specificity as possible.
  • If the alleged victim is in immediate danger, the best time to contact the alleged victim, whether or not the alleged victim knows a report is being made, and if there will be a danger to the SWAN representative who will investigate the report.
  • Whether or not the reporter thinks that the alleged victim could make the report themselves.
  • The names of others who have knowledge of the alleged abuse.
  • The name, telephone number, and relationship of the reported to the alleged victim.
  • If the reporter is willing to be contact again regarding the report, and any additional relevant information.