Joy Swanson Ernst: Adult Protective Services in the United States

In the USA, Adult Protective Services (APS) is the social service system that serves older adults and adults with disabilities who need services and support because they are at risk of being abused, neglected, or exploited. This article provides a brief history and overview of APS and describes its major challenges. Using a philosophy that maximizes client self-determination, APS responds to the abuse and neglect of vulnerable older and disabled adults by investigating reports of mistreatment and working closely with the social services, health, and justice systems to reduce risk to victims and to hold ...