USEFUL INFORMATION

Report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of people with disabilities ages 18-59 and seniors living in your community.

Anyone can report a case of abuse in good faith.  The Adult Protective Services Act provides that people, who in good faith report suspected abuse 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.

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 older persons who are unable, due to dysfunction, to report for themselves.  This law applies to persons delivering professional services to older persons 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 older person is not capable of reporting the abuse themselves. 

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