Adult Protective Services Louisiana: How to Report and What Happens Next

Your mother's caregiver stopped answering your calls three days ago. The checking account shows two unexplained withdrawals. Something is wrong, but you don't know who to call or what happens when you do.

Louisiana Adult Protective Services (APS) investigates reports of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation involving adults aged 18 and older who cannot protect themselves due to physical or mental impairment. The program operates under the Louisiana Department of Health's Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS), and its core mission is intervention — not punishment.

How to File a Report With Louisiana APS

Louisiana law requires certain professionals — doctors, nurses, social workers, law enforcement officers, and nursing home staff — to report suspected abuse or neglect. But anyone can file a report, and you do not need proof to make one. A reasonable suspicion is enough.

To report:

• Call the Louisiana APS hotline: 1-833-577-6532 (toll-free, available 24/7 for emergencies)
• For non-emergency reports, contact your local OAAS regional office during business hours

When you call, be prepared to provide:

• The adult's name, age, and address
• A description of the suspected abuse or neglect
• The name and relationship of the suspected perpetrator (if known)
• Any immediate safety concerns

You can report anonymously. Louisiana law protects reporters from civil liability when reports are made in good faith.

What Triggers an APS Investigation

APS investigates four categories of harm:

Physical abuse — hitting, slapping, restraining, or any use of force. Unexplained bruises, burns, or fractures on an elderly parent warrant a call.

Neglect — failure by a caregiver to provide food, shelter, medical care, hygiene, or supervision. This includes a home health aide who stops showing up or a facility that leaves a resident in soiled clothing for hours.

Self-neglect — when an adult living alone cannot meet their own basic needs due to cognitive or physical decline. Hoarding, refusing medical care, and malnutrition in a person living independently all fall here.

Financial exploitation — unauthorized use of an adult's funds, property, or assets. This is the fastest-growing category in Louisiana. Common patterns include a caregiver draining a bank account, forging checks, or pressuring a confused parent to change a will or deed.

What Happens After You Report

Once APS receives a report, an intake worker assesses whether the situation meets the criteria for investigation. If it does:

1. An investigator is assigned within 24 hours for emergencies, or within several business days for non-emergency cases
2. A home visit occurs — the investigator interviews the adult, the alleged perpetrator (if accessible), and any witnesses
3. The adult's capacity is assessed — APS determines whether the person can make informed decisions about their own care and safety
4. A finding is issued — substantiated (evidence supports the allegation), unsubstantiated (insufficient evidence), or inconclusive
5. A service plan is developed if the allegation is substantiated, which may include referrals to home care, legal aid, or law enforcement

APS cannot force an adult with full cognitive capacity to accept services. If your parent is mentally competent and refuses help, APS has limited authority to intervene — even if you believe the situation is dangerous.

When APS Leads to Legal Authority Changes

A substantiated APS finding can accelerate several legal processes that matter for families navigating elder care in Louisiana.

Community Choices Waiver priority access. Adults with substantiated abuse or neglect cases referred by APS receive Priority 1 status on the Request for Services Registry (RFSR) waitlist. This is the highest priority tier — ahead of all chronological registrants — and can mean the difference between years on a waitlist and immediate waiver placement.

Interdiction proceedings. If APS determines that an adult cannot protect themselves and no valid mandate (Louisiana's version of a power of attorney) exists, the agency may refer the case to the district attorney or a legal aid organization to initiate an interdiction — a court-supervised process that appoints a curator to make decisions for the incapacitated adult.

Criminal prosecution. In cases involving financial exploitation, physical abuse, or severe neglect, APS coordinates with local law enforcement and the district attorney's office. Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:93.3 and 14:93.4 criminalize abuse and exploitation of persons with infirmities, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.

How APS Intersects With Your Legal Planning

An APS investigation does not replace the need for legal authority documents. If your parent still has cognitive capacity, the most protective step you can take is executing a durable financial mandate and healthcare power of attorney before a crisis forces the court's hand.

Louisiana's civil-law system uses terminology and execution requirements that differ from every other state. A mandate must be executed as an authentic act — signed by the principal, a notary, and two witnesses all present at the same time — if it authorizes real estate transactions. Generic power of attorney forms downloaded from national websites are routinely rejected by Louisiana banks and title companies.

The Louisiana Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit walks you through the complete process: executing a valid mandate, setting up a healthcare power of attorney, and understanding when interdiction becomes necessary. It includes the express authority clauses Louisiana law requires for Medicaid planning and asset protection — provisions that free state forms do not contain.

What APS Cannot Do

APS is an investigative and referral agency, not a legal guardian. It cannot:

• Remove an adult from their home against their will (only a court order can do this)
• Manage an adult's finances or medical decisions
• Override a competent adult's right to refuse services
• Provide ongoing case management (it refers to other agencies for follow-up)

If your parent needs ongoing protection and lacks capacity, the legal pathway is either a valid mandate (if they can still sign) or interdiction (if they cannot). APS can document the situation and make referrals, but it cannot substitute for the legal authority that banks, hospitals, and Medicaid require.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I report elder abuse anonymously in Louisiana?

Yes. Louisiana law allows anonymous reports to APS. However, providing your contact information helps investigators follow up for additional details, which can strengthen the investigation.

What is the difference between APS and Elderly Protective Services?

Louisiana uses both terms. Elderly Protective Services (EPS) is a subset of the broader APS mandate, focused specifically on adults aged 60 and older. Reports for both go through the same intake process.

How long does an APS investigation take in Louisiana?

Emergency cases receive an investigator within 24 hours. Non-emergency investigations typically take 30 to 60 days to complete, depending on the complexity of the case and the availability of the adult and witnesses.

Does an APS finding go on a public record?

APS investigation records are confidential under Louisiana law. They are not publicly accessible. However, substantiated findings may be shared with law enforcement, the district attorney, or the court system if legal action is pursued.

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