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Basic APS Information

Basic Information & Reporting to APS

How to Report

To make a report of suspected mistreatment or self-neglect of an at-risk adult, call the APS Intake Number for the County Department of Human/Social Services where the at-risk adult lives. Click Here for a list of County APS Intake Numbers.

At-risk Adults

The purpose of the Adult Protective Services program is to protect adults who cannot protect themselves. These adults are known as “at-risk adults.”

In the Colorado Adult Protective Services statute (law), and "at-risk adult" is defined as "an individual eighteen years of age or older who is susceptible to mistreatment or self-neglect because the individual is unable to perform or obtain services necessary for the individual's health, safety, or welfare or lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions concerning the individual's person or affairs."

Adults who might meet the difinition of an at-risk adult include:

Adults who are being mistreated or exploited
Adults with a developmental disability, aquired brain injury, Alzheimer's, dementia, or neurological or cognitive defect
Adults with a major mental illness
Frail or elderly persons who are unable to perform typical activities of daily living

Mistreatment Categories

1) Physical abuse includes hitting, kicking, burning, confining, or restraining an adult. Signs are:

Injuries, such as bruises, welts, burns, lacerations or abrasions, fractures

2) Sexual abuse is sexual activity or touching without the consent or understanding. Signs are:

Reported sexual assault

3) Self-abuse is the infliction of injury to the adult by the adult’s own hand or volition. Signs are:

Head injuries, hair loss from pulling, self-inflicted cuts or bruises

4) Neglect is a lack of physical care by a caregiver. Signs are:

Improper administration of medications other drugs, and/or alcohol to "control" the adult
Malnourishment
dehydration
Unclean physical appearance, soiled clothing, bedsores
Unsanitary living conditions

5) Financial Exploitation is using an at-risk adult’s money/property for another’s benefit. Signs are:

Unpaid monthly bills, missing incombe or resources, transfer of assets, abuse of a Power of Attorney, denied access to funds.

Self-Neglect

Self-neglect occurs when an at-risk adult cannot or does not care for himself or herself. Choice of lifestyle, by itself, is not proof of self-neglect. Some signs of self-neglect are:

Non-compliance with or inability to take medicines as prescribed
Malnutrition and/or dehydration
Inadequate or inappropriate diet
Unclean physical appearance, soiled clothing, decayed teeth, broken glasses, overgrown nails
Unsanitary conditions in the home
Wandering or getting lost
Confusion, disorientation, or memory impairment

The Adult Protective Services statute does not authorize APS programs to investigate reports of emotional and verbal abuse.

Reporting to APS

All Colorado citizens are encouraged to immediately report suspected mistreatment or self-neglect of an at-risk adult. Certain occupational groups are urged by state law to report the mistreatment and/or self-neglect of an at-risk adult including:

Physicians, surgeons, physicians’ assistants;
Medical examiners or coroners;
Hospital and nursing home personnel;
Psychologists and other mental health professionals;
Dentists; Pharmacists;
Law enforcement officials and Fire Protection personnel;
Court-appointed guardians and conservators;
Community centered board staff;
Personnel of banks and other financial institutions;
State and local long-term care ombudsmen;
Any caretaker, staff member, or employee of or volunteer or consultant for any licensed care facility, agency, home, or governing board.

What to Report

When making a report to Adult Protective Services (APS), provide as much information as possible about the adult and the alleged perpetrator including:

The adult's:

Name, address, and phone
Date of birth, or estimated age
Medical and/or disabling condition(s)
Family members, friends, neighbors or caregivers

The adult’s situation:

Specific concerns (allegations)
History of previous safety concerns
Names and contact information of family, friends, or other persons who might be of assistance during an investigation

The alleged perpetrator(s):

Name, address, and phone number
Relationship to/history with the at-risk adult

Refusal of Protective Services

At-risk adults have the right to refuse adult protective services. If services are refused and the county APS program believes that the adult retains decision-making capacity, no further action is taken.

If an adult refuses protective services and the county APS program has significant concerns about the at-risk adult’s capacity to make such a decision, the county program may:

Encourage interested and reliable family members or others to petition the court to determine the at-risk adult’s decision-making capacity; or
If no appropriate family members or others are willing or capable of petitioning the court, the County Department of Social (Human) Services may petition the court to determine the at-risk adult’s decision-making capacity.

Confidentiality

All issues pertaining to APS cases are confidential, including the identity of the reporter(s), client information, and APS' response orders.

Liability of the Reporter

Persons making a report of mistreatment or self-neglect of an at-risk adult in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability. Reporters who knowingly makes a false report, may be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a maximum $750 fine.

After a Report is Made

After a report is received by the County Department of Social (Human) Services, and it is determined that the adult meets the definition of an at-risk adult and the allegations meet the definition of mistreatment or self-neglect the county may determine:

That an APS investigation will not take place because the adult is not an at-risk adult or because the allegations do not meet the definition of mistreatment or self-neglect information is provided to the reporter about other resources/servies.
That an APS investigation is necessary, and an APS caseworker will investigate, gathering more information, by calling or visiting the at-risk adult and/or the person who made the report, and other persons, who might have relevant information.