Who can receive adult protective services?
The Executive Office of Elder Affairs’ Adult Protective Services program is only able to investigate cases of abuse where the individual:
- Is 60 or older
- Resides in Massachusetts and lives in the community, as opposed to a long-term care setting
To report abuse of an adult under the age of 60, contact the Disabled Persons Protection Commission at (800) 426-9009. To report abuse of a patient by nursing home or hospital staff, contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at (800) 462-5540.
Who can file a report?
Anyone who has a concern of possible abuse of an adult who is 60+ can file a report. Reports can be filed anonymously.
If you are a mandated reported (e.g., doctor, first responder, social worker), please visit the mandated reporter portal to file a report.
Should I call or use the online system?
In cases of emergency, you should call (800) 922-2275.
If you want to make the report anonymously, you should call (800) 922-2275. The online system requires you to submit your name.
If you do not have the name and address of the victim, you should call. The online system requires you to submit their name and address.
How to report by phone
Reports can be filed 24 hours a day by phone at (800) 922-2275.
If you are ready to call, please have the victim’s name, address, date(s), and any other relevant information to explain the situation. You do not have to share everything with the Adult Protective Services team, but our investigators need enough information to follow up on the situation.
How to report online
In cases of emergency, you should call (800) 922-2275. Additionally, if you want to make the report anonymously, you should call 800-922-2275.
Reports can be filed 24 hours a day online. If you have technical issues when trying to report online, please stop the online reporting process and immediately call (800) 922-2275 to report abuse.
Please see the Elder Abuse Online Reporting User Guide for further instruction before you report elder abuse online.
If you successfully file a report online, you DO NOT need to call.
Online reports will be treated the same as verbal reports over the phone and referred to the local Adult Protective Services agency.
If you include your email address, you will receive an email confirmation after submitting the report.
After a report is made
Once a report is received, it will be reviewed by the local Adult Protective Services agency.
If a report is reviewed and calls for an investigation, an Adult Protective Services caseworker will be assigned to further investigate the situation.
If a report is reviewed and does not qualify for an investigation by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the reporter will be notified if they specified they wanted to be updated about the status of the case when reporting the abuse.
In most cases, reports are reviewed the same day, but regulations allow up to 48 hours in non-emergency situations.
After a case has been investigated
If abuse is confirmed, the caseworker will work with the older adult to create a plan of action to reduce the abuse in the older adult’s life. The older adult has a choice of whether or not to accept the plan. Adult Protective Services will not move forward without consent from the older adult.
If abuse or neglect is not confirmed, the case is closed. In some cases of confirmed abuse where a crime may have been committed, investigators will work with law enforcement as needed.
People who file a report can ask to be contacted after the case has been investigated. If you choose not to be notified, Adult Protective Services will not follow up with the person who filed the report.
These webpages were supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award for Adult Protective Service Public Awareness Campaign totaling $50,000 by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.