Report Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation and Self-Neglect

Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation AND self-neglect of adults age 60 or older and people with disabilities age 18-59 living in your community.

The Adult Protective Services Act provides that people – who in good faith report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-neglect or cooperate with an investigation – are immune from criminal or civil liability or professional disciplinary action. It further provides that the identity of the reporter shall not be disclosed except with the written permission of the reporter or by order of a court. Anonymous reports are accepted.

To report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation and self-neglect of an adult age 60 or older or a person with disabilities age 18-59 call the statewide, 24-hour Adult Protective Services Hotline: 1-866-800-1409.

For residents who live in nursing facilities, call the Illinois Department of Public Health's Nursing Home Complaint Hotline: 1-800-252-4343.

For residents who live in Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs), call the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services' SLF Complaint Hotline: 1-800-226-0768.

The reporter should be prepared to answer the following questions to the best of their ability...

• The alleged victim's name, address, telephone number, sex, age, and general condition;

• The alleged abuser's name, sex, age, relationship to victim and condition;
  

• The circumstances which lead the reporter to believe that the adult age 60 or older or person with disabilities age 18-59 is being abused, neglected, or financially exploited, with as much specificity as possible;

• Whether the alleged victim is in immediate danger, the best time to contact the person, if he or she knows of the report, and if there is any danger to the case worker going out to investigate;

• Whether the reporter believes the client could make a report themselves;

• The name, telephone number, and profession of the reporter;

• The names of others with information about the situation;

• If the reporter is willing to be contacted again; and,

• Any other relevant information.
  

Certain professionals are required by law to report suspected abuse.
Illinois has a law which requires certain professionals to make reports of suspected abuse of adults age 60 or older or people with disabilities age 18-59 who are unable, due to dysfunction, to report for themselves.

This law applies to persons delivering professional services to adults age 60 or older or people with disabilities age 18-59 in the following fields:

• social services

• adult care

• law enforcement

• education

• medicine

• state service to seniors

• social workers

*Mandatory reporting requirements only apply when the reporter believes that the adult is not capable of reporting the abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation themselves.

For more information, see the booklet, "Reporting Abuse: What Professionals Need to Know," listed in Publications. 

All reports and records of the Adult Protective Services Program are subject to strict confidentiality provisions, except as provided by law or court order.