Nevada County Adult Protective Services investigates suspected abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities across Nevada County, California. The office is at 950 Maidu Avenue in Nevada City. To make a report, call 530-265-1639 during business hours or 888-339-7248 toll-free. For emergencies outside business hours, use the 24/7 line at 530-265-1217.
Who APS Can Help
APS serves two groups under California’s Welfare and Institutions Code. The first is elders, meaning anyone 65 or older. The second is dependent adults between 18 and 64 who have physical or mental limitations serious enough that they cannot carry out normal activities or protect their own rights without help.1California Legislative Information. California Welfare and Institutions Code 15610 – Definitions
The limitation has to be substantial. Someone recovering from a temporary injury who still manages their own affairs generally wouldn’t qualify. Someone with a cognitive disability who cannot recognize they’re being taken advantage of would.
APS also responds to self-neglect, meaning an adult who cannot manage their own hygiene, nutrition, or medical needs and has no one caring for them. No perpetrator is required for a self-neglect report.
How to Report
Anyone can report. Call 530-265-1639 or 888-339-7248 during business hours, or 530-265-1217 any time for an emergency involving immediate danger. An intake worker will ask you to describe what you saw, who is involved, and where the adult is.
Your identity as a reporter stays confidential under California law. You do not need to be sure that abuse is happening before you call. A reasonable suspicion based on what you’ve seen or heard is enough. Anyone who reports in good faith is protected from civil or criminal liability, even if the investigation turns up nothing. Filing a knowingly false report is a different matter and can expose you to a civil lawsuit.
What to Have Ready When You Call
The more detail you can give, the faster a caseworker can act. Useful information includes:
- The adult’s full name, home address, and a phone number where they can be reached
- The suspected abuser’s name, relationship to the adult, and any contact information
- What you observed, when it happened, and how often
- Specific evidence such as visible injuries, financial irregularities, unsanitary living conditions, or statements the adult has made to you
Call even if you only have part of this. A caseworker would rather start with an incomplete picture than get no report at all, and your details may confirm a pattern APS is already watching.
Signs of Financial Exploitation
Financial abuse is harder to spot because it usually happens between people who trust each other. On the money side, watch for unexplained large withdrawals, a new joint account the adult didn’t open, sudden credit card debt, checks written to unfamiliar people, and bank statements that stop arriving at the home. On the people side, watch for a new companion who insists on going to the bank with the adult, a caregiver who starts handling finances without proper legal authority, or a recently signed power of attorney the adult doesn’t appear to understand.
If You’re a Mandated Reporter
Healthcare workers, law enforcement personnel, clergy, and employees of elder care facilities are among the professionals California law requires to report suspected abuse. If you fall into one of these roles, make a verbal report immediately or as soon as practically possible, then follow up with a written report on form SOC 341 within two working days.2California Department of Social Services. SOC 341 – Report of Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse The form is available through the California Department of Social Services or directly from the Nevada County office.3California Department of Social Services. Adult Protective Services Program Forms Fill in what you know and note what you don’t; you aren’t required to complete every field.
A mandated reporter with care or custody of an elder or dependent adult who fails to report known or suspected abuse faces a misdemeanor charge, up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. If the failure is willful and the adult suffers death or great bodily injury, the maximum rises to one year in county jail and a $5,000 fine.4State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Elder Abuse Laws (Criminal)
What Happens After You Call
An intake screener first decides whether the situation falls within the agency’s authority. If it does, a caseworker is assigned. Emergency cases involving an immediate threat are prioritized for contact within 24 hours. Non-emergency reports typically get an initial response within 10 days.
The investigation usually includes a home visit. The caseworker observes the living conditions and speaks with the adult privately to figure out whether abuse is happening, how serious it is, and what the person needs to be safe. If the adult lives in a care facility, APS may coordinate with the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. If the situation looks criminal, APS brings in law enforcement.
When the Adult Refuses Help
This is the part that often surprises family members. A mentally competent adult can decline APS services, refuse to let a caseworker into their home, and choose not to cooperate with the investigation. APS does not have police powers. Caseworkers cannot force entry or compel anyone to accept help.
The one exception is when a professional evaluation determines the adult lacks the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. APS can then petition a court for involuntary protective services, but a judge must approve any forced intervention, and caseworkers have to exhaust voluntary options first.
Services APS Can Arrange
When abuse or neglect is confirmed and the adult accepts help, APS connects them with services aimed at reducing risk going forward. That might mean arranging in-home supportive care, meal delivery, or transportation; referring the person to mental health services; or helping them obtain a restraining order against an abuser. In financial exploitation cases, a caseworker may help the adult contact their bank, consult a civil attorney, or consider whether a conservatorship fits the situation.
For self-neglect, APS focuses on filling whatever gap is causing the problem. Someone who can no longer cook safely might get home-delivered meals. Someone whose home has become hazardous might get help from a cleanup crew coordinated through county services. The guiding principle is the least restrictive intervention that still keeps the person safe.