Adult Protective Services in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Adult Protective Services (APS) investigates reports of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment of adults with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 59 who live in community settings. Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), APS serves adults whose physical or mental impairments substantially limit their ability to care for or protect themselves. To make a report, call the statewide hotline at 1-800-490-8505, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Note: Pennsylvania APS serves adults ages 18 to 59 with disabilities. For adults age 60 and older experiencing abuse, neglect, or exploitation, contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), which administers elder protective services for older Pennsylvanians.

How to Report Elder Abuse in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania APS reports are made exclusively by phone. There is no statewide online reporting portal. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 first.

Report by Phone

Call 1-800-490-8505 to reach Pennsylvania's APS intake hotline, staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hotline connects callers to the appropriate county APS office. A trained intake specialist will ask about the person you are concerned about, the circumstances of the suspected abuse, and relevant details about the person's disability or health condition. Reports may be made anonymously. Hearing-impaired callers may use Pennsylvania Relay at 711.

Report Online

Pennsylvania APS does not offer a statewide online reporting portal. All APS reports for adults ages 18 to 59 with disabilities must be made by phone at 1-800-490-8505. For older adults (60+), contact your local Area Agency on Aging — a directory is available at aging.pa.gov.

Emergency Situations

If an adult with a disability is in immediate danger — facing physical violence, a medical emergency, or another life-threatening situation — call 911 first. Pennsylvania APS is not a first-responder agency. After the immediate emergency is addressed, report to the APS hotline at 1-800-490-8505 to ensure that an investigation and protective services are initiated.

What Information to Have Ready Before You Call

Having the following information ready when you call 1-800-490-8505 will help the intake specialist assign an appropriate response priority:

• Full name, age, and current address of the adult you are concerned about
• A description of the suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment — including specific incidents and dates
• The name and relationship of the alleged abuser (if known)
• Information about the person's disability, health conditions, or limitations
• Names of other witnesses, family members, or care providers who may have relevant information
• Your own contact information (optional — reports may be anonymous)

Pennsylvania law (Act 70) requires reasonable cause to believe a person needs protective services — proof is not required. Report what you know and let trained investigators determine the facts.

Types of Elder Abuse APS Investigates in Pennsylvania

Under Act 70 of 2010 (62 Pa.C.S. Chapter 30), Pennsylvania APS investigates the following categories of abuse and neglect affecting adults ages 18 to 59 with disabilities:

• Physical abuse — Intentional infliction of physical pain, injury, or bodily harm
• Sexual abuse — Non-consensual sexual contact, exposure, or exploitation
• Emotional abuse — Verbal threats, intimidation, humiliation, or conduct causing psychological harm
• Neglect — Failure by a caregiver to provide essential food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or supervision; includes self-neglect when the adult cannot care for themselves
• Financial exploitation — Misuse or misappropriation of the person's money, property, or financial resources
• Abandonment — Desertion by a caregiver who has assumed responsibility for providing care

Warning Signs of Elder Abuse

Because many Pennsylvania APS clients have disabilities that may limit their ability to communicate, recognizing abuse requires careful observation. Watch for the following warning signs.

Physical Signs

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns, or marks — especially in patterns or at different stages of healing
• Signs of physical restraint, such as rope marks, bruising on the wrists, or ligature marks
• Pressure ulcers, bedsores, or signs of prolonged neglect of medical conditions
• Sudden weight loss, dehydration, or visible malnutrition

Behavioral Signs

• Increased agitation, fear, or anxiety around a particular caregiver or family member
• Withdrawal from activities or interactions that the person previously engaged in
• Sudden changes in mood, behavior, or functional ability without a medical explanation
• Reluctance to speak or make eye contact — especially when a caregiver is present

Financial Signs

• Unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts or changes to account signatories
• Unpaid bills, utility shutoffs, or lack of necessary medications despite having financial resources
• Changes to a will, power of attorney, or beneficiary designations without clear explanation
• New individuals appearing to manage the person's finances or possessions

Who Can (and Must) Report Abuse in Pennsylvania

Any person who has reasonable cause to believe that an adult with a disability ages 18 to 59 is experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment may make a report to Pennsylvania APS. Reports may be made anonymously.

Under Act 70, mandatory reporters are employees and administrators of facilities and programs that serve adults with disabilities — including long-term care facilities, personal care homes, home health agencies, adult day centers, and similar settings. These reporters are required by law to make a report whenever they have reasonable cause to believe abuse or neglect has occurred.

Mandatory reporters who knowingly fail to report face a summary offense for the first failure and a misdemeanor of the third degree for subsequent failures (Act 70 § 506(c)). Good-faith reporters — mandatory or voluntary — are immune from civil and criminal liability under Act 70 § 302(f) and § 305.

What Happens After You Report to APS in Pennsylvania

After a report is received by the Pennsylvania APS hotline, the following four-step process is followed.

Step 1 — Intake Screening

The county APS office screens the report to determine whether it meets the eligibility criteria under Act 70 — specifically, whether the person is an adult ages 18 to 59 with a qualifying disability, and whether the reported conduct constitutes abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment within APS's jurisdiction. Reports meeting the criteria are assigned a priority level.

Step 2 — Response Timeline

Pennsylvania APS prioritizes responses based on the severity of the reported harm:

• Priority (immediate danger or serious harm): investigation initiated immediately
• Non-priority (abuse or neglect without imminent danger): investigation initiated within 72 hours

Step 3 — Investigation

A county APS caseworker makes in-person contact with the alleged victim to assess the situation. The caseworker evaluates the person's living conditions, safety, and ability to make informed decisions. Interviews may be conducted with family members, care providers, neighbors, and medical professionals. If criminal conduct is suspected, APS coordinates with local law enforcement.

Step 4 — Service Plan and Outcome

If the investigation substantiates abuse or identifies unmet protective needs, APS works with the adult and their support network to develop a service plan. Services may include emergency placement, in-home care, mental health services, medical referrals, financial management assistance, and legal referrals. Adults with decision-making capacity may accept or refuse services. When capacity is in doubt and risk is serious, APS may pursue court-ordered protective action.

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

Pennsylvania APS investigates abuse in community settings for adults with disabilities ages 18 to 59. For complaints about abuse, neglect, or poor care inside a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, or other licensed long-term care setting, contact the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-717-783-8975 or visit aging.pa.gov.

For older adults age 60 and older experiencing abuse in the community, contact your local Area Agency on Aging. A directory is available at aging.pa.gov. For nursing home complaints involving any age group, a detailed guide to the Pennsylvania nursing home complaint process.

Additional Resources in Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania APS Hotline: 1-800-490-8505 (24/7)
• Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 1-717-783-8975
• Area Agency on Aging (for adults 60+): 1-800-677-1116
• PA DHS Adult Protective Services: pa.gov/agencies/dhs/report-abuse
• National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)
• National Center on Elder Abuse

If your concern involves a licensed nursing home or care facility in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Nursing Home Complaint Guide explains the complete reporting process.