Tennessee Adult Protective Services

This secure website is being provided for you to report suspicions of abuse/neglect/exploitation of adults when the suspected abuse/neglect/exploitation took place in Tennessee. Your report will be reviewed and processed by Adult Protective Services personnel at the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Please follow the instructions below. If you prefer, you may instead call 1-888-APS-TENN (1-888-277-8366).

Duty to Report Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation – T.C.A. 71-6-103(b)

Please read the following before submitting a report:

1. Contact 911 if the situation is a life-threatening emergency

   It may take up to 1 business day to process reports of abuse and neglect made through the web-based internet reporting process. If you believe the allegation of abuse/neglect/exploitation you are reporting requires action in less than 24 hours, please contact the Adult Protective Services intake hotline at 1-888-APS-TENN (1-888-277-8366). Learn more…

2. Your report to Adult Protective Services is confidential

   Your report is confidential, and it is not subject to public release under the Open Records Act. The law provides for immunity from civil or criminal liabilities for innocent persons who report even unfounded suspicions, as long as your report is made in good faith. Your identity is kept confidential. Providing us with your identity also helps if someone in Adult Protective Services needs to communicate with you regarding the situation you reported to work together in protecting adults with disabilities and persons who are elderly.

3. Also, contact the Adult Protective Services intake hotline at 1-888-APS-TENN (1-888-277-8366) for the following situations:

   • The situation you are reporting is an emergency

   • You prefer to remain anonymous Anonymous – The reporter does not want to provide his/her personal information such as e-mail address and contact numbers to Adult Protective Services. Reports made through this system are confidential, and it is not subject to public release under the Open Records Act. Reporter identity is kept confidential. Providing us with your identity also helps if someone in Adult Protective Services needs to communicate with you regarding the situation you reported to work together in protecting adults with disabilities and persons who are elderly.

   • You have insufficient data to complete the required information on the report

   • You are unsure if the report involves imminent risk of harm

   • You do not know the required alleged victim’s information (date of birth or estimate age, address or directions, county of residence).

   • You have to enter more than two alleged perpetrators, two witnesses, or two collaterals.

4. What is Abuse Abuse – Abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional) generally involves more extreme forms of harm to the adult, including the infliction of pain, injury, mental anguish, unreasonable confinement, or other cruel treatment. , Neglect Neglect – Neglect occurs when the basic needs of a dependent adult are not met by a caregiver. Neglect may be unintentional, resulting from the caregiver's lack of ability to provide or arrange for the care or services the adult requires. Neglect also may be due to the intentional failure of the caregiver to meet the adult's needs. Self-Neglect - Self-Neglect occurs when a dependent adult is unable to care for him/herself or to obtain needed care. The impairments result in significant danger to the adult and in some situations deterioration can occur to the point that the adult's life may be at risk. , Financial Exploitation Financial Exploitation – Financial Exploitation occurs when a caregiver improperly uses funds intended for the care or use of the adult. These are funds paid to the adult or to the caregiver by a governmental agency.    Learn more…

5. If you have already created a report and want to track it

   You need the reference number to check the status of your report. The report status will be shown until the investigation process has begun. Please click here to track a report

6. If you want to report adult abuse that has occurred outside the State of Tennessee and you do not know how to contact the state where it occurred click here for contact information.

If the situation concerns a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately.

I have read the notice above and I believe that the allegation of abuse or neglect I have to report is NOT an emergency.

You may use this reporting system to report allegations or risks that are not imminent, life-threatening and that do not require immediate medical care. If you are unsure if the situation requires an immediate response or there is an imminent risk of harm/danger to the alleged victim, then call Adult Protective Services at 1-888-APS-TENN (1-888-277-8366) immediately.