Abuse or neglect at home
For someone living at home or in the community, Adult Protective Services is the main route. Reports can be anonymous.
#1
Call Adult Protective Services
Washington Adult Protective Services, 1-877-734-6277 (TTY 1-833-866-5595), investigates abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults living in the community. Statewide, online intake any time, anonymous reports accepted. They respond by risk, roughly within 24 hours for high risk and a few days otherwise. They cannot remove an adult who has the capacity to refuse help, but they can visit, document, and follow up. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
#2
Write down what you saw, then follow up
Note what you observed and when, with dates and specific examples. Photos of injuries, the home, or suspicious documents help. APS will ask for this on the follow-up. Do not confront the suspected abuser before APS visits, since that can push things underground or speed up money moving.
#3
If a paid caregiver is the problem, report the license too
Home care aides, nursing assistants, and nurses are licensed by the state, and a license complaint runs on its own, separate from the APS investigation. File at the Department of Health complaint portal. Oversight of nursing assistants moves from the Department of Health to the Washington Board of Nursing on July 1, 2026. Nurses are already regulated by that board.
#4
If money is moving, treat it as urgent too
If transfers are happening right now, do not wait on any investigation. Only the bank can stop money in motion. Go straight to the active-fraud steps.
After the immediate hour
Once the crisis is delayed or stabilized, you have time. Take the standard quiz to get curated picks for the longer arc. COPES eligibility, your AAA, family caregiver support, what to set up before the next round.
These scripts are paraphrased from caregivers who have been through these situations on r/dementia, r/AgingParents, ALZConnected, and AARP. They are not legal or medical advice. The LTC Ombudsman, your AAA, and the Alzheimer's helpline are all free and can advise on the specifics of your situation.
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