Adult Protective Services

At-risk adults are persons age 18 and older who are unable to provide or obtain services necessary for their health, safety, and welfare OR who lack the capacity to make or understand responsible decisions. Conditions that increase risk include dementia, physical or medical frailty, developmental disabilities, brain injury, behavioral disorders, and mental illness.

If you suspect an at-risk adult may be experiencing mistreatment or is self-neglecting his or her basic needs, call the Carteret County Department of Social Services where the at-risk adult lives to make a report. It's OK to report even if you just suspect something is wrong as long as you make the report in good faith.

Learn More About Reporting to APS

Below is helpful information when making a report but, even if you don't have all this information and you think an at-risk adult is being mistreated, you should still make a report.

• What prompted the call today? Did something happen?
• How is the adult being mistreated? When did you last see the adult?
• Does the adult have any medical or physical conditions that impair the adult's ability to provide for day-to-day needs?
• Does the adult have a diagnosed mental illness or show signs of a mental illness?
• Does the adult have any problems with memory, decision making, or understanding how to care for him/herself?
• Does the adult have any developmental, intellectual, or cognitive disability that is impairing the ability for self-care?
• Has there been any decline in the adult's ability to adequately do cooking, shopping, using available transportation, managing medications, or mobility?
• Is the adult working with any service providers to address his/her needs? Any friends or family who are supportive?
• Have any actions been taken yet that address your concerns?
• Can you think of anyone else who might have additional information that we could contact?

If your call is about caretaker neglect:

• Remember that a caretaker can be paid or unpaid, family, a home health provider, spouse, child, neighbor, friend, or facility staff.
• Does the caretaker misuse drugs or alcohol?
• Does the caretaker isolate or prevent outside contact with the adult?
• Does the adult demonstrate fear of the caretaker?
• Is the caretaker financially dependent on the adult?
• Is the caretaker depriving the adult of basic necessities?

If your call is about exploitation:

• Is anyone using the adult's money for their own personal needs without the adult's knowledge?
• Has the adult's bank account been depleted?
• Is there an unexplained disappearance of funds or valuables?
• Has there been questionable transfer of assets or real estate?

If your call is about physical abuse or sexual abuse:

• Does the adult have any current injuries?
• Does the alleged abuser have access to the adult?
• Does the adult demonstrate any fear of the alleged abuser?
• Has the adult experienced any pain as a result of the abuse?

If your call is about self-neglect:

• Is the adult malnourished or dehydrated as a result of self-neglect?
• Is the adult's hygiene poor resulting in health hazards?
• Is the adult hoarding and as a result the living situation is unsafe?
• Does the adult have any untreated medical or mental health needs?
• Is the adult homeless?
• Is the adult aware of his/her needs?
• Is the adult able to provide for his/her own basic needs?