Adult Protective Services (APS), refers to a publicly funded program which evaluates and intervenes in reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults or those who are disabled and are unable to protect themselves from harm.

National Origins of APS

Adult Protective Services in the United States originated in 1958 when the National Council on Aging created an ad hoc committee of social workers to discuss "the potential need for a protective service for elderly and disabled persons." The next milestone happened in 1975 when Congress enacted Title XX of the Social Security Act to strengthen the delivery of social services in the state. Anticipating further federal funding and research, States began to enact laws establishing their authority and responsibility to provide protective services for adults and/or disabled persons.

North Carolina APS

The North Carolina Adult Protective Service law was passed through a grassroots effort as Department of Social Services workers realized that a legal tool other than guardianship was needed to protect disabled/elder adults who had been abused, neglected or exploited.

North Carolina has been providing protective services to adults through its one hundred county Departments of Social Services since 1975. This was one of the nation’s first initiatives to recognize the needs of older and disabled adults. North Carolina’s Adult Protective Services statute provides for services to all adults who are incapacitated by a physical and/or mental disability. It authorizes the county Departments of Social Services (DSS) to evaluate an older/disabled adult’s need for protective services and to provide or arrange for services when necessary.

Adult Protective Services is a multifaceted service, which is based on the awareness of the vulnerability of older and disabled adults to abuse, neglect and exploitation. The provision of the service is based in the State’s general statutes and includes mandatory reporting to the county Department of Social Services. An evaluation of the adult’s needs is then assessed and appropriate intervention is then activated in situations in which an abused, neglected, or exploited older adult is found to be in need of protective services.

The protection of older and disabled adults is a shared community responsibility. While county Departments of Social Services have the leadership role for promoting community cooperation, these agencies do not have all of the services or resources needed by older or disabled adults to provide adequately for their protection. Multi-disciplinary and multi-agency cooperation, including public and private service providers, older and disabled adults’ family members, friends and other informal caregivers in the community are elements of a community’s successful effort to meet the needs of this vulnerable population.

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