Adult Protective Services (APS) for Adults Age 60+ Who Live in the Community (NOT in long-term care facilities)
Services are available to seniors age 60 and over 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 of the office phone, and your call will be returned on the next business day.
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SWAN case workers from the APS program work with seniors age 60 and over who live in a domestic setting. We work to resolve situations of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation reported by the victims of abuse or neglect or others familiar with the victim's situation. Reports to APS may be made on behalf of seniors who are unable to care for themselves, if they are unable to report for themselves, and their inability for self-care may substantially threaten their lives. All reports and records of the APS program are subject to strict confidentiality provisions, except as provided by law or court order.
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For information about the rights of seniors 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 or neglect of a senior age 60 and over?
Click the image above to view information from the IL Dept on Aging
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Physical Abuse - physical injury or infliction of pain
Emotional Abuse - verbally assaulting, threatening, harassing, or intimidating a senior adult age 60 and over 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 senior adult age 60 and over 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 senior adult age 60 and over for any reason other than medical Passive Neglect - the failure by a caregiver to provide a senior adult age 60 and over 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 senior adult Willful Deprivation - exposing a senior adult age 60 and over 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 senior adult's financial resources to the disadvantage of the victim and/or the profit or advantage of another person Self-Neglect - senior adults age 60 and over who lack the capacity to care or report for themselves, which may substantially threaten their own health |
What information should a reporter be prepared to provide a SWAN APS case-worker?
- 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 senior adult age 60 and over, 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.
