Adult Protective Services

Protecting At-Risk Adults and Seniors

Colorado operates as a state supervised, county administered system. El Paso County Adult Protective Services investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation and provides for the safety and well-being of at-risk adults who are elderly or disabled.

Professional staff assesses the need for protection and directly intervene if necessary.

Assistance Programs are available in obtaining medical care, mental health referrals or living arrangements.

If you suspect an adult is being abused, exploited or neglected, and you are a mandated reporter call law enforcement. Non-mandated reports, information and resource inquires can be made to Adult Protective Services.

A video the explains the APS process is below. A summary video explaining DHS is also online.

Mandatory Reporting

Certain professionals are required by law to report physical abuse, sexual abuse, caretaker neglect, and exploitation (termed “mistreatment”) that is observed or that the reporter becomes aware of when that mistreatment is occurring to an at-risk elder or an at-risk adult with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). These mandatory reports must be made to the law enforcement agency where the mistreatment occurred within 24 hours of witnessing or becoming aware of the mistreatment.

For more on mandatory reporting, visit the Who Is a Mandatory Reporter page.

To Make a Report

Phone: (719) 444-5755 (Monitored between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, closed holidays)
Fax: (719) 444-5780 (Monitored between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, closed holidays)
Email: Complete Referral Form and submit to AdultReportingAPS@elpasoco.com (Monitored between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, closed holidays)

If it is an emergency, or an urgent situation, please contact law enforcement at 911.

Colorado State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Colorado State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of skilled nursing homes, and licensed assisted living residences. For more information or to find the local ombudsman, visit https://www.coombudsman.org/.