Adult Protective Services in Michigan

Michigan Adult Protective Services (APS), operated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), investigates reports of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and self-neglect affecting vulnerable adults aged 18 and older who live in the community. Michigan APS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To report suspected abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult in Michigan, call 855-444-3911.

How to Report Elder Abuse in Michigan

Michigan APS reports are made exclusively by phone. There is no statewide online reporting portal at this time.

Report by Phone

Call Michigan APS at 855-444-3911. The line is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with on-call APS staff covering nights and weekends. The intake worker will document the nature of the concern, the identity of the alleged victim, and available information about the alleged abuser. You do not need to have proof of abuse — reporting based on reasonable suspicion is both acceptable and appropriate.

Report Online

Michigan does not currently offer a statewide online reporting portal for APS reports. All reports must be made by calling 855-444-3911. If you have concerns about a vulnerable adult and prefer to have information in writing, you may contact your local MDHHS office to discuss your options, but a phone call to the hotline is the fastest way to initiate an investigation.

Emergency Situations

If a vulnerable adult in Michigan is in immediate physical danger, call 911 first. APS investigators are social service workers, not emergency first responders. For imminent danger, APS protocol requires a face-to-face visit as soon as possible after emergency services have been contacted. After calling 911, call 855-444-3911 to open a formal APS case.

What Information to Have Ready Before You Call

Providing detailed information when you call will help the intake worker assign an appropriate response level. Gather the following if possible:

• Full name, age, and address of the vulnerable adult you believe is at risk
• A description of the specific abuse, neglect, or exploitation you witnessed or suspect
• The name and relationship of the alleged abuser or neglectful caregiver
• Information about the adult's physical or mental impairments or disabilities
• Names of any witnesses or others with relevant knowledge
• Your own contact information (reports may be made anonymously, but your contact info helps with follow-up)
• Information about the person's current living situation, medical appointments, or immediate safety risks

Types of Elder Abuse APS Investigates in Michigan

Under the Michigan Social Welfare Act (MCL 400.11 et seq.), Michigan APS is authorized to investigate the following types of maltreatment:

• Physical abuse — intentional bodily injury, including hitting, improper restraint, or inappropriate medication administration
• Mental/emotional abuse — verbal threats, humiliation, intimidation, or deliberate isolation from support systems
• Sexual abuse — non-consensual sexual contact or sexual exploitation
• Maltreatment — a broad category encompassing degrading treatment or deprivation of dignity
• Neglect — a caregiver's failure to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or personal hygiene assistance
• Financial exploitation — misuse of a vulnerable adult's funds, property, or resources, including misuse of a power of attorney
• Self-neglect — an adult's inability to meet their own essential needs due to physical or mental impairment

Warning Signs of Elder Abuse

Recognizing the warning signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation can prompt a timely report that may save a vulnerable adult from serious harm.

Physical Signs

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, or broken bones, particularly in various stages of healing
• Bedsores, poor hygiene, or untreated medical conditions
• Rapid or unexplained weight loss, dehydration, or malnutrition
• Fearfulness or flinching in the presence of a particular person
• Injuries that do not match the explanation given by the caregiver

Behavioral Signs

• Sudden withdrawal, depression, or extreme anxiety
• Reluctance to speak freely in the presence of a caregiver or family member
• Confusion, disorientation, or changes in behavior beyond what is expected for the person's condition
• Reports of threats, confinement, or mistreatment
• Sudden changes in sleep habits, eating patterns, or social behavior

Financial Signs

• Unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts or liquidation of assets
• Sudden changes to a will, trust, power of attorney, or joint accounts
• Unpaid bills, disconnected utilities, or inadequate food despite adequate income
• Missing possessions or valuables
• A caregiver who controls all access to money or financial records

Who Can (and Must) Report Abuse in Michigan

Any person who suspects a vulnerable adult in Michigan is being abused, neglected, or exploited may file a report with APS. Anonymous reports are accepted.

Michigan law at MCL 400.11a(1) designates specific professionals as mandated reporters who are legally required to report when they have reasonable cause to suspect a vulnerable adult is being mistreated. Mandated reporters include physicians, nurses, psychologists, mental health counselors, hospital staff, home health employees, social workers, teachers, school administrators, law enforcement officers, county medical examiners, adult day care providers, and bank and credit union employees.

Mandated reporters who fail to report face civil liability for damages caused by the failure, plus a fine of up to $500 per violation. All good faith reporters — including mandated reporters — are immune from civil liability under MCL 400.11c. Reporter identities are confidential and disclosed only with consent or by court order.

What Happens After You Report to APS in Michigan

Once a report is received, Michigan APS follows a defined response and investigation process:

Step 1 — Intake Screening

The intake worker evaluates the report to determine whether it meets Michigan's criteria for APS investigation — specifically, whether the person is a vulnerable adult under MCL 400.11(f) and whether the reported conduct constitutes abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect. Reports involving residents of licensed facilities may be referred to the MDHHS Bureau of Community and Health Systems or law enforcement.

Step 2 — Response Timeline

Michigan APS requires initial contact with the vulnerable adult or a collateral source within 24 hours of receiving a report for all cases. For situations involving imminent danger, the APS worker must conduct a face-to-face contact as soon as possible. For non-emergency situations, a face-to-face home visit must occur within 72 hours of intake.

Step 3 — Investigation

An APS caseworker conducts a face-to-face visit with the vulnerable adult in their home. The worker assesses the adult's physical condition, living environment, and safety. Interviews are conducted with the victim, caregivers, family members, and other relevant parties. Medical records, financial documents, and law enforcement records may be reviewed. Criminal activity is referred to law enforcement.

Step 4 — Service Plan and Outcome

If abuse, neglect, or exploitation is substantiated, APS develops a service plan in collaboration with the vulnerable adult and their support network. Services may include in-home assistance, emergency placement, medical and mental health referrals, financial management support, and legal advocacy. Michigan law respects the right of adults with capacity to refuse services. If the person lacks capacity and faces ongoing serious harm, APS may pursue emergency court action under MCL 400.11b.

APS vs. Long-Term Care Ombudsman — Who Handles Nursing Home Abuse in Michigan?

Michigan APS investigates abuse and neglect affecting vulnerable adults in community settings — primarily private homes and non-licensed care arrangements. Complaints about licensed nursing homes, assisted living facilities (known as adult foster care facilities and homes for the aged in Michigan), and other regulated residential settings are handled separately.

For concerns about residents of licensed long-term care facilities in Michigan, contact the Michigan Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 1-866-485-9393. The Ombudsman advocates for residents and investigates complaints about care quality and residents' rights. The MDHHS Bureau of Community and Health Systems handles licensing complaints and facility inspections.

For a complete guide to filing a nursing home complaint in Michigan, see our Michigan Nursing Home Complaint Guide.

Additional Resources in Michigan

• Michigan APS Hotline: 855-444-3911 (24/7)
• Michigan Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 1-866-485-9393
• MDHHS APS Program: michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/abuse-neglect/adult-ps
• Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116
• National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)
• National Center on Elder Abuse

Michigan APS reports are confidential and anonymous reports are accepted. If you suspect a vulnerable adult is being harmed in Michigan, call 855-444-3911 any time of day or night.