Reviewed by Laurence P. Banville, Esq.Who to call when you suspect elder abuse
New York provides several reporting channels depending on where the older adult lives and the severity of the situation:
- Statewide APS hotline — 1-844-697-3505. This is the primary number for reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a person age 18 or older who is in the community (living at home or in an assisted living setting). The line operates 24/7 and routes your call to the appropriate local agency.
- Local Department of Social Services (DSS) or Human Resources Administration (HRA). In New York City, the HRA Adult Protective Services unit handles community-based reports; outside the city, your county DSS is the point of contact. The statewide hotline reaches both.
- 911. Call immediately if the older adult faces imminent physical danger, a medical emergency, or an ongoing crime. Police and emergency services respond first; APS follows to address the longer-term protective situation.
- District Attorney or law enforcement. For financial exploitation, identity theft, or criminal elder abuse, a police report can run parallel to an APS report and may be necessary to recover assets or pursue charges.
What Adult Protective Services does
Adult Protective Services (APS) is a government program authorized under New York Social Services Law § 473. It exists to protect adults age 18 and older who are in danger of harm due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation and who, because of mental or physical impairment, cannot protect themselves. APS caseworkers conduct an in-home visit, assess safety, and can arrange services ranging from home care and benefits enrollment to emergency shelter or guardianship proceedings. APS does not replace law enforcement—criminal acts should also be reported to police.
What information to have before you make a report
You do not need to gather evidence or be certain that abuse has occurred. Reasonable suspicion is the legal threshold. Having the following information ready will help the APS worker respond faster:
- The victim’s full name, address, and approximate age.
- The nature of the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation—physical harm, financial theft, emotional abuse, self-neglect, or a combination.
- Whether the person has any known caregivers or family members who may be involved.
- The victim’s mental and physical condition as best you know it.
- Any immediate safety concerns—especially if the person cannot call for help on their own.
If you do not have all of this, report anyway. APS is trained to investigate with incomplete information.
Can I report elder abuse anonymously?
Yes. New York law permits anonymous reports to APS. Reporters who do identify themselves are generally protected from retaliation under state law when they make a report in good faith. Mandatory reporters—physicians, social workers, nurses, home health aides, and others who work professionally with vulnerable adults—are legally required to report suspected abuse; they cannot use anonymity to avoid that obligation, but they still receive the same legal protections when they report in good faith.
How elder abuse reporting differs from nursing-home complaints
This page covers reporting elder abuse in the community—at home, with family caregivers, in assisted living, or in other non-institutional settings. Nursing homes and adult-care facilities operate under a separate regulatory framework. Complaints about facility conduct, staffing, or care standards go to the New York State Department of Health via the nursing-home complaint hotline (1-888-201-4563), not to the APS line. If an individual resident is being abused by staff or another resident, the facility hotline and local law enforcement are both appropriate; APS may also be involved in severe cases. The related links below cover nursing-home-specific reporting in detail.
When to speak with an elder abuse attorney
Making a report to APS or calling 911 is the right first step. But if an older adult has suffered serious physical injury, long-term financial exploitation, or a preventable death, there may also be a civil claim against the abuser or a negligent institution. An attorney can help preserve evidence, coordinate with APS investigators, and advise whether a lawsuit is appropriate—separate from and without interfering with any criminal or agency process.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report elder abuse in New York?
Call the statewide APS hotline at 1-844-697-3505, available 24/7. The hotline routes your report to your local Adult Protective Services office or county Department of Social Services. If the older adult is in immediate physical danger, call 911 first, then follow up with APS. You can also walk into a local DSS office or, in New York City, the HRA Adult Protective Services unit.
Who do I report elder abuse to?
For community-based elder abuse (at home or in assisted living), report to New York Adult Protective Services via the 1-844-697-3505 hotline or your county DSS. For complaints about a licensed nursing home or care facility, report to the New York State Department of Health nursing-home hotline at 1-888-201-4563 instead. Criminal conduct—assault, theft, fraud—should also be reported to local law enforcement. Multiple reports to different agencies can run at the same time.
What is Adult Protective Services (APS)?
Adult Protective Services is a government program under New York Social Services Law § 473 that protects adults who cannot protect themselves due to mental or physical impairment. APS caseworkers investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, visit the person at home, and can arrange services such as home care, emergency shelter, or legal guardianship proceedings. APS is separate from law enforcement and does not make arrests, though it may coordinate with police when crimes are involved.
What information do I need before making a report?
You need only a reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect—not proof. Helpful information includes the older adult's name, address, age, the nature of the suspected abuse, and any known caregivers or family members who may be involved. If you do not have all of that, report anyway; APS is trained to investigate with incomplete information. For emergencies, call 911 immediately rather than waiting to gather details.
Can I report elder abuse anonymously?
Yes. New York law allows anonymous reports to Adult Protective Services. If you do choose to identify yourself, you are generally protected from liability and retaliation when you make a good-faith report. Certain professionals—doctors, nurses, social workers, home health aides—are mandatory reporters who must report suspected elder abuse regardless of anonymity, but they receive the same legal protections when they act in good faith.