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 involving vulnerable adults ages 18 to 59 who cannot protect themselves due to physical or mental impairment. Elderly Protective Services (EPS) serves adults age 60 and older through the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs (GOEA). These programs investigate abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation; their core mission is intervention — not punishment.

How to File a Report With Louisiana APS

Louisiana law requires all Louisianans to report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or extortion of a person protected by the reporting law. Anyone can file a report, and you do not need proof to make one. A reasonable suspicion is enough.

To report:

• For adults ages 18–59, call Louisiana APS: 1-800-898-4910 (24/7)
• For adults age 60 and older, call Elderly Protective Services: 1-833-577-6532 from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays, or 1-844-94LAEPS (1-844-945-2377) after hours
• For life-threatening danger, call 911

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. The report is screened and prioritized based on the reported risk and urgency
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. The investigation is completed — official APS guidance says investigations begin within 24 hours or before 10 business days depending on risk, and aims to complete them within 30 days
5. Protective services or referrals are arranged when appropriate, which may include home care, legal aid, law enforcement, or other agencies

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

An APS/EPS referral involving substantiated abuse or neglect and an immediate nursing-home need can accelerate several services that matter for families navigating elder care in Louisiana.

Community Choices Waiver priority access. Adults with substantiated abuse or neglect referred by APS/EPS who, without CCW services, would require institutional placement can receive Priority 1 status on the Request for Services Registry (RFSR). This is the highest priority tier, subject to the waiver's eligibility and availability rules.

Interdiction proceedings. If an adult cannot protect themselves and no valid mandate (Louisiana's version of a power of attorney) exists, APS/EPS may refer the situation to legal aid, law enforcement, or the district attorney. An interdiction is a separate district-court proceeding 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, mandatary, 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?

APS serves vulnerable adults ages 18 to 59. Elderly Protective Services (EPS) serves adults age 60 and older. The programs use separate intake paths and agencies, so use the hotline for the adult's age group.

How long does an APS investigation take in Louisiana?

Official APS guidance says investigations begin within 24 hours or before 10 business days depending on risk, with a goal of completion within 30 days. Non-urgent online EPS reports may take more than 48 hours to process; call 911 for life-threatening danger.

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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