Adult Protective Services (APS)
The Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families, is the agency within West Virginia that is responsible for providing protective services for adults, ages eighteen and older. Adult Protective Services may be provided to both incapacitated adults who live in their own home adults and residents of facilities such as nursing homes, personal care homes, residential board and care homes and adult family care homes.
Adult Protective Services include specific intervention activities that are intended to protect mentally and/or physically incapacitated adults from abuse and neglect by others and from self-neglect. The specific intervention activities that are provided by the Office of Social Service include investigation, assessment, and time-limited case management.
Anyone may make a report of adult abuse or neglect. In addition, certain groups of individuals are considered mandatory reporters and are required by law to make a report. If you know of or suspect that an incapacitated adult is being/has been abused or neglected you should immediately report this to the Department of Health and Human Resources. You may report abuse or neglect of an adult by calling:
- your local Department of Health and Human Resources , Adult Services Unit
- the statewide HOTLINE at 1-800-352-6513
If you request, your name as a reporter of adult abuse or neglect, will remain confidential and will not be shared with others. Reporters are also protected by law from civil or criminal liability when a report is made in good faith.
