Links & FAQs

A. Two groups are eligible for APS. First, all older adults ages 65 and older, whether or not they have disabilities or other impairments. Second, adults ages 18-64 with disabilities that substantially impair their ability to live independently or care for themselves.

A. Abuse is almost always about power and control over another person. Abuse can be verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual.
Neglect comes in many forms. Neglect may come at the hands of a caregiver or family member, or it may be due to someone being unable to unable to adequately provide for their own basic needs or protect their own health and safety (often called “self-neglect”).
Financial exploitation is using or attempting to use the money, property, or identity of vulnerable adults for personal gain or benefit without their informed consent.
Elder abuse, elder mistreatment, adult maltreatment, and similar terms are sometimes used to refer to various forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

A. In Texas, everyone is a mandated reporter. That means that if you think a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected, or financially exploited, Texas law requires you to report it. Situations within APS’s scope should be reported directly to APS. Situations in nursing homes or other licensed facilities must instead be reported to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). All reports to APS and HHSC made in good faith are protected by law. Failure to make a required report can result in criminal penalties.

A. For non-urgent situations, reports can be made through the Texas Abuse Hotline, either using their website (txabusehotline.org) or by calling their telephone hotline at (800) 252-5400. For situations involving an emergency or life-threatening conditions that must be dealt with immediately, reports should be made directly to 911 instead of using the Texas Abuse Hotline.

A. Texas APS does not investigate abuse or neglect in nursing homes or other licensed facilities, since their focus is on adults living in the community, such as in their own home. Suspicions of abuse or neglect in a facility must be reported to Texas Health and Human Services Commission, either using their Complaint and Incident Intake telephone line, at (800) 458-9858, or their online TULIP system. If there is an immediate emergency or life-threatening situation, call 911.

A. APS investigates and helps stop abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation as quickly as possible to keep vulnerable adults safe. When they receive a report of alleged abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, they investigate the situation. When necessary, they partner with law enforcement, medical and financial professionals, and other community partners to arrange for shelter, medical care, and more. They are also able to provide basic necessities to meet a client’s short-term needs. However, APS clients who have decision-making capacity generally have the right to accept or refuse services.

A.  Abuse of an older adult or a younger adult with a disability can take many forms, and come with different types of signs in different situations. You may notice someone with unexplained injuries who suddenly becomes less social or talkative or cannot leave the house. If injuries can’t be explained, or if the explanation sounds suspicious or improbable, it can be a sign of abuse. You may also notice recurring injuries.

A. Neglect of an older adult or a younger adult with a disability may not always be obvious, but there are signs to look for. A sign can be as small as a neighbor no longer coming outside or letting his or her yard get overgrown. Or it can be more serious, such as someone losing a lot of weight or not bathing. Signs of neglect can be very similar whether they are due to self-neglect or neglect by a family member or caregiver.

A.  For APS, financial exploitation is something done by a caregiver, family member, or other person with an ongoing relationship with the vulnerable adult. This can take many forms, with many different signs, such as:
– Banking: unusual bank account activity, unpaid bills, or frequent checks made out to “cash”.
– Legal Documents: naming a new power of attorney, signing documents such as wills or loans even though they don’t seem capable of understanding what they’re signing, or transferring property from the client to someone else.
– Caregiver/Relative Behavior: a relative pushing to gain access or feeling entitled to a vulnerable adult’s assets while that adult is alive, or caregivers being more concerned about the care receiver’s financial assets than about their health or their ability to meet their needs.
Texas APS does not typically investigate fraud or scams that have been done by a stranger, but they will often help a client recover from the impact of the fraud or scam on their health and well-being.