Division of Aging & Adult Services

Adult Protective Services

Child/Vulnerable Adult Abuse Hot Line 1-800-222-8000

What is Adult Protective Services (APS)?

Adult Protective Services includes the process of investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults residing in private home settings, as well as any follow-up services provided to those vulnerable adults (by DAAS) as a result of the investigations.

What is the Role and Authority of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS)?

The 1986 Mississippi Legislature enacted the "Mississippi Vulnerable Adults Act of 1986." The Act designates the Mississippi Department of Human Services as the state Agency to conduct investigations and/or evaluations pending the receipt of a report that a vulnerable adult, residing in a private home setting, is in need of protective services. Originally, the responsibility had been organizationally assigned by MDHS' Division of Family and Children's Services. In 2006, the Mississippi Legislature passed legislation for the Division of Aging and Adult Services to employ staff for the Adult Protective Services program.

What is a Vulnerable Adult?

A vulnerable adult is defined in the Mississippi Vulnerable Adults Act as:

• A person eighteen (18) years of age or older or any minor whose ability to perform the normal activities of daily living or to provide for his or her own care or protection is impaired due to a:
• mental, emotional, physical, or developmental disability or dysfunction
• brain damage
• the infirmities of aging
• The term "vulnerable adult" also includes residents or patients, regardless of age, in a care facility.

What are the types of adult maltreatment and indicators?

Physical Abuse: Indicators such as beating, slapping, kicking, rough handling, or other abuse causing welts, cuts, burns, abrasions, sprains, bruises, dislocations, fractures or broken bones.

Neglect by Caregiver/Others: Indicators such as lack of supervision, failure to give medicine, food or personal care, not attending to bed sores.

Self-Neglect: Indicators such as inability to provide self-care (i.e. cook, eat, bath), over-medication/under-medication, untreated medical or mental conditions, aimless wandering, causing fires.

Psychological/Emotional Abuse: Indicators such as verbal threats or insults, cursing, belittling, withholding companionship or isolation.

Sexual Abuse: Indicators such as Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), pregnancy, bruises, bleeding, pain or itching in genital or anal areas, difficulty in walking or sitting.

Financial Abuse/Exploitation: Indicators such as mismanaging money or stealing property, savings, credit cards, unusual activity in bank accounts, misuse of assets by a representative payee.

How are reports made?

Report abuse of vulnerable adults living in the following settings to the MDHS:

• a private home setting (i.e., in his/her own home or the home of another person)
• an unlicensed personal care home with three (3) or fewer residents unrelated to the operator
• a home setting that does not require a license to operate under the Mississippi State Department of Health’s guidelines (i.e., boarding home)

Reports may be made to the MDHS toll-free Child/Vulnerable Adult Abuse/Neglect Hotline at 1-800-222-8000. Reports received by the Hotline are electronically transmitted to the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), Adult Protective Services regional supervisor for further handling.

Report abuse occurring within licensed care facilities (i.e., nursing homes, personal care homes) or unlicensed personal care homes with 4 or more residents unrelated to the operator to the Mississippi State Department of Health, at 1-800-227-7308 or the Office of the Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, at 1-800-852-8341.

Under the Vulnerable Adults Act, who is considered as a mandated reporter?

The Vulnerable Adults Act mandates that any person, including but not limited to the following, who knows or suspects that a vulnerable adult has been or is being abused, neglected, or exploited, shall immediately file a report:

• Attorney, physician, osteopathic physician, medical examiner, chiropractor or nurse engaged in the admission, treatment or care of a vulnerable adult
• Health professional or mental health professional
• Practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means for healing
• Social worker, family protection worker, family protection specialist or other professional adult care, residential or institutional staff
• State, county or municipal criminal justice employee or law enforcement officer
• Human rights advocacy committee or long-term care ombudsman council member
• Accountant, stockbroker, financial advisor or consultant, insurance agent or consultant, investment advisor or consultant, financial planner, or any officer or employee of a bank, savings and loan, credit union or any other financial service provider.

Can a reporter remain anonymous?

Anonymous reports are accepted. However, any person or entity holding or required to hold a license as specified in Title 73, Professions and Vocations, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be required to give his, hers or its name, address and telephone number in the report of the alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Will the reporter's name be kept confidential?

Yes, the reporter's name is kept confidential by MDHS.

What information should the reporter include in his/her report about the vulnerable adult and the vulnerable adult's circumstances?

To the extent possible, a report should contain, but not be limited to:

• Name, age, race, sex, physical address and location of the vulnerable adult
• Name, address and telephone number of the alleged perpetrator
• Name, address and telephone number of the caregiver, if different from the alleged perpetrator
• Whether or not the vulnerable adult is self-neglecting
• Description of the neglect, abuse and/or exploitation
• Description of the adult's impairment to perform the normal activities of daily living (meaning, what the adult can or cannot do), care for to protect self from abuse, neglect or exploitation
• Potential danger to Adult Protective Services staff who may visit the home (i.e., firearms, drugs)

What is the timeframe for an investigation to be initiated by MDHS?

Investigations are required to be initiated within forty-eight (48) hours. If an emergency exists, please call 911 or local law enforcement officials.

What is the purpose of the investigation?

The purpose of the investigation is to determine the validity of the report and to assess the need for protective services. Services from the Department are intended to safeguard a vulnerable adult's rights and maintain the well-being of the adult.

Can protective services be forced upon an adult?

Involuntary protective services cannot be forced upon a mentally capable adult.

Can MDHS criminally investigate and prosecute a perpetrator who has abused a vulnerable adult?

No. MDHS does not conduct criminal investigations. However, MDHS files a preliminary report of its findings to the Office of the Attorney General, Vulnerable Adults Unit within forty-eight (48) hours, and makes additional reports as new information or evidence becomes available. The Vulnerable Adults Unit conducts criminal investigations and prosecutes the perpetrator who has abused, neglected or exploited a vulnerable adult living in a private setting. Also, MDHS is required to file a report with the local district attorney’s office and the Attorney General’s Office when there is reasonable cause to believe that a caretaker or other person has abused, neglected or exploited a vulnerable adult.

Contact Information

Mississippi Department of Human Services
Division of Aging & Adult Services
(601) 359-4929
Report Vulnerable Adult Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation - 1-800-222-8000