Essex County Adult Protective Services
Essex County Adult Protective Services (APS) investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults.
What is a vulnerable adult?
A vulnerable adult is defined as a person 18 years of age or older who resides in a community setting and who, because of a physical or mental illness, disability or deficiency, lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make, communicate, or carry out decisions concerning his or her well-being.
Abuse: the willful infliction of physical pain, injury, or mental anguish, unreasonable confinement, or the willful deprivation of services which are necessary to maintain a person’s physical and mental health.
Sexual abuse: any sexual activity where the vulnerable adult does not consent or is incapable of resisting or declining consent due to disability or fear of retributions or hardship.
Neglect: an act or failure to act by a vulnerable adult’s caretaker which results in the inadequate provision of care necessary to maintain the health of the vulnerable adult, putting him or her at risk of serious or life-threatening injury.
Self-neglect: the result of a vulnerable adult’s inability, due to physical and/or mental impairments or diminished capacity, to perform essential self-care tasks, putting him or her at risk of serious or life-threatening injury.
Exploitation: the act of illegally using the person or resources of a vulnerable adult for another person’s profit or advantage.
Who is a mandatory reporter?
NJ State Law has deemed health care professionals, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics/emergency medical technicians as mandatory reporters.
Any of these professionals with reasonable cause to believe that a vulnerable adult is the subject of abuse, neglect, or exploitation shall report the information to the county APS provider.
If you have questions or would like to make a referral, please call 866-903-6287.
Hispanic Seniors Program
A comprehensive array of services is offered in our headquarters in a friendly cultural environment to help improve a senior’s overall quality of life. Some of the services are: Congregate Meals, Case Management, and Meals-on-Wheels.
For information contact Maria V. Manangao, at 973-624-2528, ext. 142 or email at: contact@focus411.org
Emergency Assistance
Limited temporary assistance is given to individuals facing an emergency or crisis. Individuals who qualify receive food bags.
Contact Rosa Rosario at 973-624-2528, ext. 112 or e-mail at: contact@focus411.org.
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