ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES | SERVICES
Support. Advocate. Empower.
STANDING UP AGAINST ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION
Adult Protective Services Program
Operating under the Illinois Adult Protective Services Act, this program responds to reports of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of adults aged 60+ and adults with disabilities (ages 18–59) living in the community. As a designated agency of the Illinois Department on Aging, the Senior Resource Center investigates and intervenes on behalf of reported victims of abuse in Stephenson and Jo Daviess Counties.
Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect
The Adult Protective Services Program strengthens the existing legal, medical, and social support systems to better respond to the needs of abuse victims. Services include a 24-hour hotline, community education, standardized screenings, and thorough investigations of all reports.
Reports can come from mandated reporters—such as police, EMS, and home-care aides—or from family, friends, neighbors, or the individuals themselves. Anonymous reports are welcome, and all reports are kept strictly confidential as required by law.
For victims of substantiated abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, the program provides case planning and case management to help stabilize their situation and reduce future risk. Follow-up support may continue for up to a year to ensure long-term safety and well-being.
How To Report Abuse or Neglect
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or neglect, we’re here to help.
To make a report, please call the Senior Resource Center at 815-235-9777 during regular business hours, which is Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. For 24/7 assistance, contact the 24-hour Illinois Adult Protective Services Hotline at 866-800-1409. Reports involving imminent harm are responded to at any time, day or night. All reports are handled confidentially as required by law.
- — The Senior Resource Center responds to reports of abuse and neglect involving adults living in residential community settings.
- — For residents who live in nursing facilities, call the Illinois Department of Public Health's Nursing Home Complaint Hotline at 800-252-4343 or visit https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/complaints.html
- — For residents who live in Supportive Living Program (SLP) settings, call the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services' SLP Complaint Hotline at 844-528-8444 or visit https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/assisted-living.html
What Is Abuse?
Under Illinois law, abuse includes any physical, mental, or sexual injury to an eligible adult, as well as the exploitation of their financial resources. An eligible adult is defined as a person aged 60 or older, or an adult with disabilities aged 18–59, who lives in a domestic setting and is, or is alleged to be, a victim of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation—either by another individual or through self-neglect. In most cases victims are subjected to more than one type of mistreatment.
RECOGNIZE ABUSE
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is causing the infliction of physical pain or injury to a person
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is verbal assaults, threats of abuse, harassment, or intimidation so as to compel the person to engage in conduct from which she or he has a right to abstain or to refrain from conduct in which the person has a right to engage.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is touching, fondling, or any other sexual activity with a person when the person is unable to understand, unwilling to consent, threatened, or physically forced.
Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation is the misuse or withholding of a person’s resources to the disadvantage of the person and/or the profit or advantage of another person.
Passive Neglect
Passive neglect is the failure by a caregiver to provide a person with the necessities of life including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, because of failure to understand the person’s needs, lack of awareness of services to help meet needs, or lack of capacity to care for the person.
Confinement
Confinement is restraining or isolating a person for other than medical reasons.
Willful Deprivation
Willful deprivations is deliberately denying assistance to a person who requires medication, medical care, shelter, food, therapeutic device, or other physical assistance, thereby exposing that person to the risk of harm.
Abandonment
Abandonment is the desertion or willful forsaking of an eligible adult by an individual responsible for the care and custody of that eligible adult under circumstances in which a reasonable person would continue to provide care and custody.
What is Self-Neglect?
Self-neglect occurs when an eligible adult is unable—due to physical and/or mental impairments or diminished capacity—to perform essential self-care tasks that substantially threaten their own health. This includes providing themselves with adequate food, clothing, shelter, and health care, or accessing the goods and services needed to maintain their physical health, mental well-being, and overall safety.
SIGNS OF SELF-NEGLECT
Self-neglect can take many forms. Common warning signs include:
- Hoarding that creates health or safety risks
- Unsanitary or hazardous living conditions
- Lack of food or poor nutrition
- Utilities that are no longer working or have been shut off
- Mismanagement of medications