Adult Protection Hotline: 303-271-4673

Adult Protection provides assistance to at risk adults age 18 and older who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Effective July 1, 2014, Senate Bill 111 mandates that certain professionals are required by law to report abuse, caretaker neglect and exploitation of at-risk elders directly to local law enforcement. An at-risk elder is any person age 70 and older and reports must be made to law enforcement within 24 hours. Adult protection will work with law enforcement and will continue to receive reports of self neglect for at-risk adults 18 and over.

Protective Services include, but are not limited to:
•  Initiating probate proceedings as per C.R.S. 26-3.1-101 (6)

•  Providing casework, arranging and coordinating services

•  Providing information and referrals to community resources, including public assistance benefits

•  Receiving and investigating reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation

Visit the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Adult Protective Services website for more information.

Mandated Reporting of Elder Abuse

Our older adults and aging population deserve to live in safety, with dignity and respect. If you suspect that an elderly person is at risk from a neglectful or overwhelmed caregiver, or being preyed upon financially, it’s important to speak up. Millions of at-risk adults are abused, neglected and in some cases exploited. Law enforcement should be made aware of those crimes against persons over the age of 70 and those with and intellectual developmental disability aged 18 and over.

Mandatory Reporting requires many professional groups to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation to law enforcement when they observe or become aware of the mistreatment. The new law also has legal penalties for mandatory reporters if they fail to report mistreatment.

The Colorado Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services (Colorado APS) unit has created an on-line training program for mandatory reporters and other members of the community. This training takes about 40 minutes to complete. Persons completing the course can print their results to show they completed the course.

Visit the State of Colorado’s Adult Protective Services page.

What happens after you place a call?

Child and Adult Protection Services Intake Administration, along with the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, provides a high-level overview of the process that takes place. 

Watch here: What happens after you call?