If you suspect an elder adult or adult at risk has experienced, is currently experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation, you can make a report by calling 

608-269-8600

 For an immediate health or safety emergency, dial 911

Any of these concerns should be reported to Adult Protective Services so they can be investigated. 

"What APS Reporters Need to Know" is a resource from the National Adult Protective Services Association to help reporters understand what the possible outcomes may be when an APS report is made.

Adult Protective Services (APS) helps elder adults and adults at-risk who have been abused, neglected, or financially exploited by offering assistance and services. Any person over the age of 60 is considered an “elder-at-risk” and a person between the ages 18-59 is an “adult at risk if he or she has a “physical or mental condition that substantially impairs his or her ability to care for his or her own needs and is at risk of experiencing  abuse or self-neglect.” Abuse can occur in several forms; physical, emotional, and sexual. Neglect is when  a caregiver to does not secure or maintain adequate care, services, or supervision for an individual, including food, clothing, shelter, or physical or mental health care. Self-neglect is when a person is unable to provide for their own food, shelter, clothing or medical care. Financial exploitation is also a form of abuse and occurs when there is misuse of a person’s funds.

APS also assists with guardianships and protective placements. A guardian is a person appointed by a court to act for the person in exercising rights the person is unable to exercise, to make decisions and give consents the person is unable to make and to be an advocate for the person's best interests. Protective placement is a type of protective service that is court-ordered in order to provide for the care and custody of an individual.

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OUR MISSION: To support individuals and families to live safely and independently!

The mission of the Monroe County Department of Human Services is to serve people, with an emphasis on Monroe County residents, by empowering participant responsibility and choice toward safe and independent lifestyles through the delivery of services in response to assessed needs.           

We intend to achieve this mission through providing public awareness, resource and referral information, economic support, and direct provision of services in a fiscally responsible manner.