Adult Protective Services in Nebraska

Nebraska Adult Protective Services (APS), administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), investigates reports of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect affecting vulnerable adults living in the community. Nebraska APS serves adults aged 18 and older who have a substantial mental or functional impairment or who have a court-appointed guardian or conservator. To report suspected abuse or neglect in Nebraska, call (800) 652-1999 any time or file a report online.

How to Report Elder Abuse in Nebraska

Nebraska offers two ways to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult: by phone through the 24/7 hotline and through an online reporting portal.

Report by Phone

Call the Nebraska Abuse Hotline at (800) 652-1999. The line is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An intake worker will document your report and route it to the appropriate DHHS regional office for investigation. You do not need proof to make a report — reasonable suspicion that a vulnerable adult is being abused or neglected is enough.

Report Online

Nebraska's online reporting portal is available at https://neabusehotline-dhhs.ne.gov/Reporter. The portal allows reporters to file detailed written reports and is available at any time. For non-emergency situations where you have time to provide comprehensive written information, the online portal is a convenient option. For urgent situations, calling (800) 652-1999 allows for immediate verbal assessment.

Emergency Situations

If a vulnerable adult in Nebraska faces immediate physical danger — a medical emergency, active assault, or life-threatening neglect — call 911 first. Nebraska APS workers are social service professionals, not emergency responders. After emergency services have been contacted, call (800) 652-1999 or use the online portal to initiate a formal APS investigation.

What Information to Have Ready Before You Call

Providing specific, detailed information when you report helps APS respond quickly and appropriately. Gather the following before calling:

• Full name, age, and home address of the vulnerable adult
• A description of the type of abuse, neglect, or exploitation and specific incidents you observed or suspect
• Name and relationship of the alleged abuser or neglectful caregiver
• Information about the adult's mental, physical, or functional impairments
• Names of witnesses or others with relevant knowledge
• Your contact information (reports may be anonymous, but contact info aids follow-up)
• Whether the person has a court-appointed guardian or conservator

Types of Elder Abuse APS Investigates in Nebraska

Under the Nebraska Adult Protective Services Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§28-348 et seq.), APS investigates the following types of maltreatment:

• Physical abuse — intentional physical injury including hitting, unreasonable confinement, or cruel punishment
• Sexual abuse — non-consensual sexual contact or sexual exploitation
• Emotional abuse — verbal threats, intimidation, or psychological manipulation causing mental anguish
• Neglect — a caregiver's failure to provide food, shelter, medical care, clothing, or supervision
• Financial exploitation — unauthorized use of funds, theft, misuse of power of attorney, or coerced transfers of property
• Self-neglect — an adult's inability or unwillingness to provide for their own essential needs, creating serious health or safety risks

Warning Signs of Elder Abuse

Abuse and neglect are often hidden. Recognizing the warning signs — especially patterns over time — may help you identify when a vulnerable adult needs intervention.

Physical Signs

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, or fractures, especially in various stages of healing
• Bedsores, poor hygiene, or untreated medical conditions
• Rapid weight loss, dehydration, or malnutrition
• Evidence of physical restraint such as rope marks or chafed wrists
• Fearfulness, flinching, or visible distress around a particular person

Behavioral Signs

• Sudden withdrawal, depression, or extreme anxiety
• Reluctance to speak when a caregiver is present
• Confusion beyond the person's known cognitive baseline
• Reports of threats, isolation, or degrading treatment
• Abrupt changes in behavior, daily routine, or social engagement

Financial Signs

• Unexplained bank withdrawals or missing funds
• Sudden changes to wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or beneficiary designations
• Unpaid bills, food shortages, or shutoff utilities despite adequate income
• A caregiver who controls all financial access and information
• Missing valuables, checks, or financial documents

Who Can (and Must) Report Abuse in Nebraska

Any person who suspects a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited in Nebraska may make a report. Reports may be made anonymously.

Nebraska designates a broad range of professionals as mandated reporters under the Adult Protective Services Act. Mandated reporters include physicians, psychologists, physician assistants, nurses, nurse aides, other medical and mental health professionals, law enforcement, caregivers and their employees, operators and employees of sheltered workshops, and owners and employees of DHHS-licensed facilities. Human services professionals and paraprofessionals are also included. Clergy are specifically excluded.

A mandated reporter who willfully fails to report is guilty of a Class III misdemeanor, punishable by up to 3 months imprisonment, a $500 fine, or both. Good faith reporters — including mandated reporters — are immune from civil and criminal liability for good faith reports and participation in investigations or judicial proceedings, unless they committed malfeasance or made malicious false statements.

What Happens After You Report to APS in Nebraska

Step 1 — Intake Screening

Upon receipt of a report, the DHHS hotline staff screen the report to determine whether it meets the criteria for investigation under the Adult Protective Services Act — specifically, whether the subject is a vulnerable adult under Neb. Rev. Stat. §28-371 and whether the reported conduct constitutes abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect. Reports involving licensed facility residents may be referred to the DHHS Licensure Unit or law enforcement.

Step 2 — Response Timeline

Nebraska statute requires that law enforcement and DHHS notify each other by the next working day when their investigations overlap. While specific day-based response timelines are not spelled out in statute, DHHS prioritizes reports based on assessed risk level, with high-risk situations receiving same-day or next-day response.

Step 3 — Investigation

A DHHS caseworker conducts a face-to-face visit with the vulnerable adult at their home or care setting. The caseworker interviews the adult privately where possible, assesses physical and environmental conditions, and speaks with caregivers, family members, neighbors, and other relevant parties. Medical records and financial documents may be reviewed. Criminal conduct is referred to law enforcement and the county attorney.

Step 4 — Service Plan and Outcome

If abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect is substantiated, DHHS develops a service plan to address the vulnerable adult's safety and needs. Services may include emergency placement, in-home care assistance, medical referrals, mental health services, financial management support, and legal advocacy. Adults with capacity retain the right to refuse services. Emergency protective services may be sought through the courts when the person lacks capacity and faces serious ongoing harm.

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

Nebraska APS investigates abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults in community settings — private homes and non-licensed care arrangements. Concerns about the care or treatment of residents in licensed nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, or other licensed residential settings are handled separately.

For concerns about residents of licensed long-term care facilities in Nebraska, contact the Nebraska Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 1-800-942-7830. The Ombudsman advocates for residents and investigates complaints about care quality, residents' rights, and facility conditions. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit handles regulatory complaints and facility inspections.

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

Additional Resources in Nebraska

• Nebraska APS Hotline: (800) 652-1999 (24/7)
• Nebraska Online Reporting
• Nebraska Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 1-800-942-7830
• Nebraska DHHS APS
• Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116
• National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)
• National Center on Elder Abuse

Nebraska APS reports are confidential. Anonymous reports are accepted. If you suspect a vulnerable adult is being harmed in Nebraska, call (800) 652-1999 any time or file online.