You can make a report to Adult Protective Services (APS) even if you are not considered a mandatory reporter.
Mandatory reporters are professionals identified by law who MUST make a report if they suspect the abuse, abandonment, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult has occurred. Mandatory Reporters include:
- Employees of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
- Law enforcement
- Social workers
- Professional school personnel
- Contracted Individual Providers caring for a DSHS client
- Employees of a social service, welfare, mental health, home care, hospice, home health, adult day care or adult day health agency
- Owners or employees of nursing homes, boarding homes or adult family homes
- Health care providers subject to Title 18 RCW (such as nurses and doctors)
- Christian Science Practitioners
Who else do I need to contact?
Law Enforcement
Mandatory reporters must also make a report to law enforcement if they suspect a vulnerable adult has been sexually or physically assaulted, or if they have reasonable cause to believe that an act has caused fear of imminent harm.
Mandatory reporters may not have to make a report to law enforcement for some types of physical assault between two vulnerable adults. For these types of physical assault, see RCW 74.34.035(4).
Medical Examiner or Coroner
Mandatory reporters are also required by law to report a death to the local Medical Examiner or Coroner if there is reason to suspect that the death of a vulnerable adult was caused by abuse.