Adult Protection & Senior Services
Adult Protection & Senior Services

Adult Protection & Senior Services

Boulder County Adult Protective Services (APS) staff investigates reports of abuse, neglect, including self-neglect, or financial exploitation of at-risk adults who are unable to protect themselves due to a physical or mental limitation. APS staff assesses the need for protective services and provide services to reduce the identified risk to the adult. These services may include case coordination, short-term case management, guardianship or representative payee, and information and referral.

Adults who may receive Protective Services are defined in the state law as: “At-risk Adult” means a person eighteen (18) years of age or older who because of mental or physical dysfunction, or advanced age, is unable to manage such person’s own resources, carry out the activities of daily living, or protect such person from neglect, hazardous or abusive situations without assistance from others and who has no available, willing, and responsibly able person for assistance and who may be in need of protective services.

Types of Concerns that Should Be Reported

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is intentional infliction of injury or physical mistreatment, including: slapping, pinching, choking, kicking, shoving, inappropriate use of drugs or physical restraints.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is any non-consensual sexual contact. Sexual abuse includes:

  • Unwanted touching
  • Rape
  • Sodomy
  • Coerced nudity
  • Sexually explicit photographing

Note: Any sexual contact between a facility staff person such as a nursing home, adult family home, boarding home, or supportive living and a vulnerable adult is considered nonconsensual.

Exploitation or Financial Exploitation

Exploitation is exerting undue influence or forcing a vulnerable adult to perform services for the benefit of others. Financial exploitation is the illegal or improper use of the property, resources or income of a vulnerable adult for another person’s profit or gain. Examples of exploitation include: An adult relative living in the home of a vulnerable adult without contributing to the household. An unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family.

Mental or Emotional Abuse

Mental or emotional abuse is the intentional action or inaction of mental or verbal abuse.

Mental abuse includes: intimidation, coercion, ridicule, harassment; treating an adult like a child; isolating an adult from family, friends, or regular activity; use of silence to control behavior; yelling or swearing resulting in mental distress.

Neglect or Self-Neglect

Neglect or self-neglect means that, through action or inaction, by themselves or someone else, a vulnerable adult is deprived of care needed to maintain physical or mental health. This does not include a competent person who decides to live in a way that may threaten their safety or well-being.

Neglect or self-neglect includes: untreated or improperly attended medical conditions, poor personal hygiene; unsafe living conditions, such as no heat; unsanitary living quarters, such as no toilet; lack of appropriate clothing; lack of necessary medical aids; failure to take medications as prescribed.

Abandonment

Abandonment is leaving a vulnerable adult without the ability to get necessary food, clothing, shelter, or health care. An example of abandonment includes a caregiver deserts the individual in a public place or in their own home.

Contact Us

Housing & Human Services

Phone: 303-441-1000
TTY: 1-800-659-3656
Fax: 303-441-1523
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Mailing Address
P.O. Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306

Boulder Location

3460 Broadway
Map and Directions Boulder Location

Fax: 720-564-2283
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday/Wednesday/Friday

Longmont Location

515 Coffman St.
Map and Directions Longmont Location
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday

Lafayette Location

1755 S. Public Road, Lafayette
Map and Directions Lafayette Location
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday
Closed 1-2 p.m. for lunch.

Housing & Human Services website

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