Adult Protective Services

Adult Protective Services (APS) exists to receive and investigate incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of incapacitated or vulnerable adults, and to offer appropriate services in accordance with individual need and acceptance.

The Central Intake Unit hosts a 24-hour, toll-free hotline for statewide reports of adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation. 1-877-SOS-ADULT (1-877-767-2385) TDD: 1-877-815-8390

Eligibility for Service:

Adult Protective Services is provided to an incapacitated or vulnerable adult resident of Arizona.

For the purpose of the APS program, an adult is 18 years of age or older.   A resident is a person physically present within the state's geographic boundaries, (or if not within the boundaries at specific given moment, is a current client in the program), excluding the Native American Reservations.

The operation of Adult Protective Services (APS) is authorized by Arizona Revised Statutes:

ARS 46-451 Definitions; Program Goals
ARS 46-452  Protective Services Worker Powers & Duties
ARS 46-452.01 Office of State Long-term Care Ombudsman
ARS AR-452.02 Long-Term Care Ombudsman; Duties; Immunity From Liability
ARS 46-453  Immunity of Participants; Non Privileged  Communication
ARS 46-454  Duty to Report Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation of Incapacitated or Vulnerable Adults; Violation; Classification
ARS AR 46-455 Permitting life or health of an incapacitated or vulnerable adult to endangered by neglect; violation; classification; civil remedy; definition
ARS AR 46-456 Duty to an incapacitated or vulernable adult; financial exploitation; civil and criminal penalties; exceptions; definitions
ARS 46-457 Elder Abuse Central Registry; Mandatory Reporting; Release of information
ARS 41-1959  Confidential Information; Permissible Disclosure; Rules; Violation; Classification
ARS 14-5310.01  APS Workers; Special Visitation Warrants
ARS 13-1813  Child or Vulnerable Adult Abuse; Definitions; Classification
For further APS information, contact the Operations Manager at (602) 542-4446 or write:

Arizona Department of Economic Security
Aging and Adult Administration (950A)
1789 W. Jefferson
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

You may also contact the following sites for general APS information:

Toll Free, 24-Hour Adult Abuse Hotline 1-877-SOS-ADULT