Make a report

Is someone in immediate danger?
Call 911 for an emergency or life-threatening situation.

Summit County APS hotline
330-643-7217
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

State of Ohio APS hotline
855-644-6277 (855-OHIO-APS)

Non-emergency reports may also be submitted through the Ohio Adult Protective Services Online Referral Portal. To make an anonymous report, call the statewide hotline rather than using the online portal.

Reports and APS investigatory records are confidential under Ohio law. You do not need proof or every detail before making a report. Report the concern when you have reasonable cause to believe that an adult may be experiencing abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Who may qualify for APS?

Adult Protective Services serves a person who:

• Is age 60 or older
• Is affected by the infirmities of aging or has a physical or mental impairment that prevents the person from providing for their own care or protection
• Lives in an independent living arrangement, such as a private home, apartment or other community setting
• May be experiencing abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation

A report involving someone younger than age 60 may be referred to another community organization when appropriate. Concerns involving residents of nursing homes, other long-term care facilities, or an individual identified as having a development disability may be referred to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, the Ohio Department of Health, Summit Developmental Disabilities Board or another appropriate agency.

What APS investigates

Abuse

Physical or emotional harm, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, cruel punishment or other mistreatment that results in physical harm, pain or mental anguish.

Neglect

A caregiver’s failure to provide the goods or services an adult needs to avoid physical harm, mental anguish or mental illness. Neglect also includes caregiver abandonment.

Self-neglect

An adult’s inability or failure to provide for their own essential needs, such as food, shelter, health care, medication, personal care or a safe living environment.

Exploitation

The unlawful or improper use of an adult or the adult’s money, property, benefits or other resources for someone else’s monetary or personal benefit. Exploitation may involve deception, threats, intimidation or actions taken without the adult’s consent.

Possible warning signs

Possible signs that an older adult may need help include:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns or fractures
• Lack of food, medication, heat or functioning utilities
• Unsafe, unsanitary or hazardous living conditions
• Caregiver abandonment
• Severe self-neglect
• Sudden changes in finances or missing money or property
• Loss of essential medical support, such as oxygen or dialysis services
• An older adult appearing fearful, isolated, confused or controlled by another person

What APS does

Adult Protective Services may:

• Screen and investigate reports of suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation
• Assess the adult’s immediate safety and need for protective services
• Work with the adult, family members and support systems to develop a safety plan
• Coordinate with law enforcement, medical professionals and community providers
• Connect the adult with health care, housing, food, transportation and other services
• Refer concerns to other agencies when another organization has jurisdiction
• Seek a court order for protective services when an adult is incapacitated, unable to consent and facing serious harm
• Refer older adults struggling with mental health challenges or substance use disorder to appropriate community agencies

APS focuses on protective services and reducing risk. Criminal investigations and prosecutions are handled by law enforcement and the appropriate courts.

What information should I provide?

Share as much information as you safely can, including:

• The adult’s name, address or current location
• The adult’s date of birth or approximate age
• Any physical, mental or functional limitations
• The reason you suspect abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation
• The nature and extent of the concern
• The name and address of a caregiver or alleged perpetrator, when known
• Any condition that may place the adult at immediate risk of serious harm or death

Other helpful information may include medical or mental health conditions, medications, family contacts, guardianship or power-of-attorney information, frequent emergency calls and observations about the condition of the home.

You do not need to investigate the situation or obtain information that is not already available to you. Do not delay a report because some information is unknown. Ohio law identifies the adult’s name, address and approximate age; caretaker information when known; the nature and extent of the suspected mistreatment; and the basis for the concern as information to include in a written report.

What happens after suspected elder abuse is communicated to APS?

Each concern is reviewed to determine whether it meets the requirements for an APS investigation.

When screening is complete and approved for investigation:

1. The report is assigned to an APS investigator, and the appropriate response pathway is determined. Summit County APS prioritizes a Differential Response which provides a safe, more supportive way to help older adults.
2. APS initiates an investigation within 24 hours when an emergency exists.
3. APS initiates a non-emergency investigation within three working days.
4. The investigator assesses safety, gathers information and determines whether protective services are needed.

An accepted investigation includes a face-to-face visit with the adult, preferably in the adult’s residence, and consultation with the reporting person and others who may have relevant information when feasible.

Some reports may not meet the legal requirements for an APS investigation. This may occur when the adult is younger than age 60, the concern involves a resident of a long-term care facility, another organization has responsibility for addressing the concern or the available information does not indicate abuse, neglect or exploitation. When appropriate, APS may refer the information to another agency.

Mandatory reporting

Ohio law requires certain professionals to immediately report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation when they have reasonable cause to believe that a vulnerable adult has experienced or is experiencing mistreatment.

Mandatory reporters include many health care professionals, social workers, counselors, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, law enforcement officers, clergy members, financial professionals and other senior-service providers.

Proof is not required before making a report. Ohio law also protects people who make reports in good faith from civil or criminal liability, except in cases involving bad faith or malicious purpose.

Report suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation

Summit County APS: 330-643-7217
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.