What To Do If You Suspect Abuse or Neglect
If there is immediate danger to a person, find a telephone and dial 911. An emergency exists and you need the assistance of police and/or rescue personnel.
If no immediate danger exists, you still need to report the abuse or neglect. Contact the Virginia Department of Social Services' Adult Protective Services (APS) 24-Hour Hotline toll-free at
1-888-832-3858.
For more information on Adult Protective Services, or on reporting abuse to APS, you can download copies of the brochures shown below:
- Adult Protective Services (APS) Brochure (.pdf) -
8.5" x 11" (landscape), 1 page, 2-sided, 78 KB.
- How to Report Abuse to APS (.pdf) - 8.5 x 11", 1 page, 230 KB.
You can also call your local Department of Social Services and ask for "Adult Protective Services" department. You can find their telephone number in the "blue pages" section of your local telephone directory.
For more information on preventing abuse or neglect, contact us.
Note: Links to web sites produced by organizations other than the Virginia Department for the Aging (VDA) are provided for your convenience. When you select one of these links, you will leave VDA's web site. VDA is not responsible for the content of linked web pages, and does not endorse products or services that may be offered on the linked pages. Also, the privacy policies of these sites may differ from the privacy policy followed by the Department for the Aging. Please report incorrect or outdated links to VDA's Web Designer.
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