Stop Adult Abuse

Missouri’s Adult Protective Services program helps eligible adults who require assistance with abusive, neglectful, or exploitative situations. We offer intervention, education, and prevention services along with supportive resources.
Make a difference. Make the call.

Report online at Missouri Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline Online Reporting System

Adult Abuse & Neglect Hotline

1-800-392-0210
Make a difference. Make the call.

Relay Missouri 1-800-735-2966

Cold Weather

If you know of an older adult or an adult with a disability in need of assistance due to cold weather, call 1-800-392-0210. An adult protective service worker will make contact and work with the individual to get them the resources needed or help them get to a safer location, perhaps with family or friends.
Warming centers are available across Missouri offering relief from cold weather. Warming centers can also be located by calling 2-1-1.
The elderly who are homebound or bedfast are vulnerable to hypothermia because they usually have less fatty tissue insulation, an impaired shivering mechanism, a lower metabolic rate, chronic illnesses requiring medications, and less perception of the cold.
The elderly can develop hypothermia at temperatures below 60°F. It is recommended keeping the thermostat no lower than 68 degrees. Other recommendations include wearing socks and slippers inside, avoiding using ovens for heat and staying hydrated. Certain medications can impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature in cold weather increasing the risk of hypothermia [NEEDS LINK]. Signs of hypothermia can include pale or ashy skin; feeling very tired, confused and sleepy; feeling weak; problems walking; slowed breathing or heart rate. Call 911 if you think the person has hypothermia.
Impaired mental state and impaired mobility can also put some older adults or adults with disabilities at increased risk. Falls in cold environments and wandering outside of residences and care facilities account for numerous cold-related deaths in the elderly.
Visit the National Institute on Aging for additional cold weather safety tips for older adults.
Be prepared for winter weather using Ready in 3. Make sure your home is healthy for the winter.

General Information	Mandated Reporters	Financial Service Professionals
Adult Protective Services Long Term Care Facility Complaints Signs of Abuse Neglect Self Neglect	Training COMING SOON Am I a Mandated Reporter? Safety Registry Employee Disqualification Mandated Reporters and APS	Financial Exploitation HelpVul Reporting Portal

General Information

Mandated Reporters

Financial Service Professionals

Training COMING SOON

Am I a Mandated Reporter?

Safety Registry

Employee Disqualification

Mandated Reporters and APS

Financial Exploitation

HelpVul Reporting Portal

Materials can be downloaded and printed or can be ordered by contacting DSDS Office of Constituent Services.

Adult Protective Multidisciplinary Teams

Adult Protective Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT). Providing Justice and Care for Older and Disabled Victims of Abuse.

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What is APS?

What is Abuse?

Abuse happens to people of all ethnicities and income levels and can be physical, sexual or emotional in nature.

Abuse – the infliction of physical, sexual, or emotional injury or harm including financial exploitation by any person, firm, or corporation (192.2400, RSMo).
Neglect – the failure to provide services to an eligible adult by any person, firm or corporation with a legal or contractual duty to do so, when such failure presents either an imminent danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the client or a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm would result (192.2400, RSMo).
Financial Exploitation – A person commits the crime of financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person if such person knowingly and by deception, intimidation, or force obtains control over the elderly or disabled person's property with the intent to permanently deprive the elderly or disabled person of the use, benefit or possession of his or her property thereby benefiting such person or detrimentally affecting the elderly or disabled person (570.145, RSMo).
Bullying – intimidation or harassment that causes a reasonable person to fear for his or her physical safety or property and may consist of physical actions including gestures; cyberbullying; oral, electronic, or written communication; and any threat of retaliation for reporting of such acts. (192.2400,RSMo)

Who can Report Abuse?

Anyone who suspects someone is being abused, neglected, or exploited can make a report. Certain professionals, however, are mandated by law to report. Click here to find a complete list of mandated reporting laws and mandated reporters.

What Information Do I Have to Report?

Update Coming Soon!

What Happens After I Make a Report?

Reports of Individuals Residing in the Community

If the alleged victim lives in his or her own home or community, an investigator will help the alleged victim determine the services or interventions needed to stop or alleviate the abuse. The services may include:

community supportive services, such as personal care, respite, or chore services;
home-delivered nutrition services;
financial or legal assistance and protections, such as representative payee, direct deposit, trusts, protective services, civil suit or criminal charges;
counseling for the victim;
referral to other community resources, and;
when needed, guardianship proceedings or nursing home placement.

If you would like to follow-up on a report you made to the Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline regarding an individual residing in the community (including his or her own home), contact the appropriate Adult Protective Services (APS) office in the county where the reported adult resides.

Long-Term Care Facility Complaints

If the alleged victim lives in a long-term care facility, the department’s Division of Regulation and Licensure staff conducts an investigation. Complaint investigations are handled in accordance with state statute. Long-term care reports or complaints are generally initiated within 24 hours. For more information, contact us or email info@health.mo.gov.

What about my rights?

A competent older person may refuse all services and interventions. No decisions are made about a competent adult without her or her involvement and consent.
A facility resident has the right to:

be free from mental and physical abuse;
be informed of their medical condition;
select their own physician;
participate in planning their care;
refuse treatment;
voice grievances;
be treated with respect and dignity; and
have treatments provided in privacy.

For adults participating in the Protective Services Program, consideration is given to the following inherent rights:

All programs stress the competent adult’s right to make decisions regarding care.

APS Material

Real Stories

Real Victims. Real Stories.

Samantha’s Story

A hotline report was received regarding Samantha. Samantha was a 38 years old and had a traumatic brain injury and the cognitive functioning abilities of a young child. The report alleged physical abuse by Samantha’s sister. During the investigation, the investigator learned that Samantha and her sister were arguing and the sister hit her in the face and throat. Even with opposition from other family members, the investigator encouraged Samantha and helped her obtain a medical exam and treatment. The sister told the investigator that she knew how to hit Samantha ‘without hurting her.' The family did not want law enforcement involved but the investigator made a report of the abuse to local law enforcement. As a result of the investigation and subsequent referral to law enforcement, charges filed against the sister for 3rd Degree Assault.

Edmond’s Story

A hotline report was received regarding Edmond. Edmond was 92 years old and terminally ill. He was living alone and the investigator found the house in deplorable condition. There was left-over food, dog feces, debris throughout the house. Roaches were observed on every surface of the home and Edmond had roach bites on his body. Edmond had no support system. After receiving medical treatment in the hospital, he spent approximately seven weeks in the homeless shelter with his dog while the investigator assisted in organizing community resources to take on the huge project of making Edmond’s home safe and insect free. This included complete removal of the furniture and carpet. In the end, Edmond was given his dying wish of being able to spend the remaining portion of his life in his home with his dog. Edmond is now receiving services in the home to assist with his daily needs and he is doing very well.

Ethel’s Story

A hotline report was received regarding Ethel. Ethel was 70 years old and the report indicated she had been physically abused for three hours by her son for revealing his whereabouts to law enforcement. After beating her, he drove Ethel to the local hospital and pushed her out of the moving vehicle in front of the emergency room doors. Ethel sustained severe bruising to her head, arms, legs, chest; lacerations to her head and face; and hemorrhaging around her eye. The next day, the son arrived at the hospital to visit his mother and was arrested, and charged with 2nd degree Elder Abuse. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison for what he did to his mother.

Contact

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
For questions, materials, or complaints email dsdsofficeofconstituentservices@health.mo.gov.

Advocates for an older adult or an adult with a disability:

Shared Care Credit

If you care for a person in your home, you might be eligible for a tax credit on your Missouri Income Tax Return. This includes spouses taking care of a sick husband or wife; or children taking care of a disabled parent. The Missouri Shared Care Tax Credit provides a tax credit to help caregivers offset the costs of caring for a person (age 60 or older).

The Shared Care Tax Credit:

May be up to $500 for the tax year. The credit is the amount of your Missouri tax liability or $500, whichever is less.
Is non-refundable and cannot be carried over to another tax year. However, there is a provision that allows claiming the credit for three previous tax years.
Applies to the tax return of the “caregiver”, not to the tax return of the recipient of the care, unless the caregiver and recipient of care are married and file a combined tax return.

Eligible Applicants:

The caregiver of the person needing care (age 60 or older) must be registered with the Department of Health and Senior Services as a certified “Shared Care Member” and not receive monetary compensation for providing care for the recipient. In other words, you cannot receive any pay or compensation for providing care to the care recipient.
The care recipient must live in the same residence as the caregiver for an aggregate of more than six months per tax year. It does not need to be consecutive six months, but a total of more than six months for the year. For example, the care recipient lived with you from April through May, then went to a nursing home for rehabilitation services for two months, then came back and lived with you from August through December. That would be a total of more than six months care in your home for the year.
- The care recipient must be physically or mentally incapable of living alone, as determined and certified by a physician, pursuant to Chapter 334,RSMo; and
- The care recipient requires assistance with activities of daily living to the extent that without care and oversight at home would require placement in a licensed facility, such as a nursing home pursuant to Chapter 198,RSMo; and
- Under no circumstances is the recipient able or allowed to operate a motor vehicle; and
- Does not receive services paid for by Medicaid or Social Services Block Grant funds.

Process to Claim the Tax Credit:

The Shared Care Registration form is completed by the caregiver and returned to the address that is on the form.
The MO-SCC (Physician Certification) is completed by the care recipient’s physician and sent to the Department of Revenue along with the caregiver’s income tax return. Form MO-SCC - Shared Care Tax Credit
Once your shared care registration form is processed, you will receive a letter from the Dept. of Health & Senior Services concerning your registration. A representative with the Dept. of Revenue will contact DHSS and inquire if the caregiver is registered as a Shared Care member.
You must complete the registration process with the Department of Health & Senior Services for each year you want to claim the credit.

You can also call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at (573)751-4842 and request a Shared Care Registration Packet by mail.

More information can be found at Shared Care Tax Credit (SCT)

State Offices

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