Provo Senior AdvisorWho do I call about suspected elder abuse in Utah County?
Report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult to Utah Adult Protective Services at 1-800-371-7897, and call 911 first if someone is in immediate danger.
Adult Protective Services, part of the Utah DHHS Division of Aging and Adult Services, investigates reports about adults living at home and in facilities. You do not need proof to report, only a reasonable belief that something is wrong. Financial exploitation, such as a new “friend” draining a bank account, counts.
What does the Utah County long-term care ombudsman do?
The long-term care ombudsman at Mountainland Association of Governments (801-229-3809, ombudsman@magutah.gov) advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living in Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties, free and confidentially.
Ombudsmen are certified by the state. They take complaints made by or for residents, help residents understand their rights, visit facilities, and help families sort out disputes about care, discharge or quality of life. They work for the resident, not the facility and not the family, which is exactly why they are useful.
How do I report a licensing violation to the State of Utah?
Licensing concerns about a facility or agency, such as staffing, medication errors or unsafe conditions, go to DLBC through its Submit a concern page, and substantiated problems become findings on the facility's public record.
Write down dates, names and what you saw. If the concern is also abuse or neglect, report it to Adult Protective Services as well; the agencies coordinate, but each needs its own report.
What about a complaint about a nursing home's Medicare care?
Nursing homes certified by Medicare and Medicaid are also surveyed under federal rules; complaints go through DLBC, which surveys for CMS in Utah, and the federal findings later appear on CMS Care Compare.
For a billing or coverage dispute with Medicare itself, the free SHIP Medicare counselors at MAG (801-229-3819) can help you understand the appeal options.
Which agency should we call first?
Call 911 for danger, Adult Protective Services for abuse, neglect or exploitation, the MAG ombudsman for a resident's rights or a discharge dispute, and DLBC for a facility breaking licensing rules.
If you are unsure, the ombudsman is a good first call for anything happening inside a facility; they will tell you who else needs to hear about it.
Side by side
| Call this agency | For this kind of problem | |
|---|---|---|
| 911 | Immediate danger or a medical emergency | Not for ordinary complaints |
| Adult Protective Services | Abuse, neglect, exploitation | Not a licensing inspector |
| MAG ombudsman | Resident rights, discharge disputes | Not an investigator of crimes |
| DLBC | Licensing rule violations | Not an advocate for one resident |
Sources: Utah Admin. Code R432-270, Utah DHHS and DLBC pages, MAG Aging & Family Services, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited; see our editorial standards.
