Making a Report

You can make a report online or over the telephone.

Reporting by Telephone

You may contact any of the following: DSHS’s ENDHARM hotline: 1-866-ENDHARM (1-866-363-4276)

Adult Protective Services: 1-877-734-6277 (TTY: 1-833-866-5595)
Contact APS for reports of allegations of abuse, abandonment, neglect, self-neglect and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults living in the community and in facilities.

Complaint Resolution Unit: 1-800-562-6078
(TTY 1-800-737-7931)
Contact CRU to report concerns regarding a person living in a facility (e.g. a nursing home, adult family home, Assisted Living, enhanced services facility, intermediate care for individuals with intellectual disabilities) or receiving supported living services.

Online Reporting

Online reporting is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To make a report, visit:
www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/reportadultabuse

If you are an employee of a residential facility, please complete a Residential Care Services Online Report:
www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/residential-care-services/residential-care-services-online-incident-reporting

Also report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to your supervisor right away. The resident will be protected and an investigation will begin immediately.

More to Know about Reporting

You do not need anyone’s permission to make a report (including the client and/or your supervisor).
You do not need proof to make a report.
If you report in good faith and it turns out there was no abuse, you cannot be blamed or get in trouble.
Your name will be kept confidential (unless there is a legal proceeding, you give permission to release your name, or where the law requires the release of your name to law enforcement or a licensing agency).
Your name will not be given out to the client.

When you report, you will be asked to tell what you know about:

the name, address, and age of the person you suspect is being harmed;

what you think is happening, when it started, and if it continues to be a problem;
who you think is doing harm;
the names of anyone else who may have some information about the situation; and
your name, address, and the best time to reach you, so you can be contacted for any questions.

All reports will be screened by the Complaint Resolution Unit (CRU) within Residential Care Services and/or Adult Protective Services.

You do not need proof to report suspected mistreatment.

Summary

Abuse of vulnerable adults is a serious but common crime. Sadly, most abuse goes unreported. A Home Care Aide is a mandatory reporter and must report any suspected abuse or other mistreatment immediately. Reporters do not need to have proof and must report all suspicions of mistreatment.

For the module Checkpoint and Review, reference page 108-110 of your text.