The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) goal is to maximize positive outcomes with dependent adults by protecting their well-being, empowering independence, and supporting their quality of life.
Dependent Adult Protective Services (APS) receives reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of dependent adults. Concerns of possible abuse are evaluated or assessed by HHS. The program endeavors to provide for the safety and protection of adults who are, or are suspected to be, victims of maltreatment. The program endeavors to make referrals to assist alleged victims and their families in locating community support to meet their needs. Iowa operates as a state-supervised and state-administered program with 5 service areas of field operation.
Who Qualifies?
Persons who meet the definition of ‘dependent adult,’ who have either been abused or neglected by a caretaker or have neglected themselves, are assessed by HHS.
‘Dependent adult’ means a person eighteen years of age or older who is unable to protect the person’s own interests or is unable to adequately perform or obtain services necessary to meet essential human needs, as a result of a physical or mental condition that requires assistance from another, or as defined by Department rule.
‘Caretaker’ means a related or non-related person who has the responsibility for the protection, care, or custody of a dependent adult as a result of assuming the responsibility voluntarily, by contract, through employment, or by order of the court.
How to Apply
Protective Service Units are available in all DHS County offices. You can call your local DHS office to make a referral or use the toll-free, hot line number, which is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-362-2178.
Handbook for Adult Guardians and Conservators - This Handbook is designed to provide information to guardians and conservators and is not intended to replace the advice of an attorney or requirements as stipulated by the laws of Iowa and addressed in the Iowa Code. The information in this handbook focuses on guardianships and conservatorships for adults. This handbook does not address guardianships and conservatorships for minors.
Any of the following as a result of the willful or negligent acts or omissions of a caretaker
Physical injury to, or injury which is at a variance with the history given of the injury, or unreasonable confinement, unreasonable punishment, or assault of a dependent adult.
The commission of a sexual offense under chapter 709 or section 726.2 with or against a dependent adult.
Exploitation of a dependent adult which means the act or process of taking unfair advantage of a dependent adult or the adult’s physical or financial resources, without the informed consent of the dependent adult, including theft, by the use of undue influence, harassment, duress, deception, false representation, or false pretenses.
The deprivation of the minimum food, shelter, clothing, supervision, physical or mental health care, or other care necessary to maintain a dependent adult’s life or health.
The deprivation of the minimum food, shelter, clothing, supervision, physical or mental health care, and other care necessary to maintain a dependent adult’s life or health as a result of the acts or omissions of a dependent adult.
Sexual exploitation of a dependent adult by a caretaker as defined in section 702.17.
Personal Degradation of a dependent adult by a caretaker which means a willful act or statement by a caretaker intended to shame, degrade, humiliate, or otherwise harm the personal dignity of a dependent adult, or where the caretaker knew or reasonably should have known the act or statement would cause shame, degradation, humiliation, or harm to the personal dignity of a reasonable person.
This website is not a reporting site for dependent adult abuse.
Please contact 1-800-362-2178 to report dependent adult abuse.
An employee of a financial institution may report suspected financial exploitation of a dependent adult to HHS.
Any other person who believes that a dependent adult has suffered abuse may report the suspected abuse to the Department of Health and Human Services.
If you are seeking to report dependent adult abuse in a nursing facility or hospital by a staff member, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., contact the Department of Inspections and Appeals: 1-877-686-0027 or hfd_complaint@dia.iowa.gov
After hours, on weekends, or holidays, contact: 1-800-362-2178
If you want to report any other abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect of a dependent adult, please call the HHS toll-free, hotline number, which is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-362-2178
The following information is useful when making a report of suspected dependent adult abuse:
Name and address of the alleged victim.
A description of the alleged mistreatment and the situation; what did you observe?
What is the nature and extent of the injury?
Who is the alleged perpetrator; name and address if possible.
Does the alleged perpetrator have access to the alleged victim?
Any other information that you feel is relevant.
Other information that will be helpful to provide when making the report includes:
What prompted the call today? Did something happen?
How is the adult being mistreated? When did you last see the adult?
Does the adult have any medical or physical conditions that impair the adult's ability to provide for day-to-day needs?
Does the adult have a diagnosed mental illness or show signs of a mental illness?
Does the adult have any problems with memory, decision making, or understanding how to care for him/herself?
Does the adult have any developmental, intellectual, or cognitive disability that is impairing the ability for self-care?
Has there been any decline in the adult's ability to adequately do cooking, shopping, using available transportation, managing medications, or mobility?
Is the adult working with any service providers to address his/her needs? Any friends or family that is supportive?
Have any actions been taken yet that address your concerns?
During the assessment, the social worker will ask to visit your home, speak with the dependent adult and caretakers, and other persons with relevant information to gather an understanding of what your household is experiencing.
The social worker will work with the adult in need of care as well as with the household to assess safety and risk.
After you help the social worker understand the unique strengths and needs of your situation, the social worker helps connect you and possibly your caretaker to services.
Services at the conclusion of the assessment are typically voluntary.
