Missouri Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-0210, Hours and How to Report

To report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation in Missouri, call the Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-0210, staffed 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., 365 days a year, or submit an online report at any hour. Intake staff monitor online reports only during hotline hours, so call 911 in an emergency. The same hotline and online system accept complaints about care in long-term care facilities.

You do not need to prove abuse before reporting a concern. Below is what to have ready, what may happen after a report, and where to raise a facility complaint.

The Hotline Number and How to Use It

Missouri Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-800-392-0210

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) operates the hotline. Reports can be submitted 24/7 through the Missouri Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline Online Reporting System, but intake staff monitor online reports only from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The online system is for non-emergency reports; call 911 in an emergency. Relay Missouri: 711. See DHSS's reporting guidance for more information.

An eligible adult is someone age 60 or older, or age 18 to 59 with a disability, who is unable to protect their own interests or adequately perform or obtain services needed for essential human needs.

DHSS recommends having this information ready when you report:

• The adult's name, address, age or date of birth, and any other identifying details
• How to contact the adult, if known
• What makes you concerned and a description of what happened
• The suspected abuser's identity, if known, and any immediate safety concerns

You may report anonymously. If you leave your name, DHSS says it will remain confidential under state law.

What to Write Down Before You Call

Before you call, organize what you already know. Specific details can help you explain the concern.

Write down the dates and times you noticed something concerning, what you saw or were told, and who was present. If your parent has visible injuries, note where they are and when you saw them. If you have photos, note when they were taken and ask the intake worker how to provide them.

For a financial concern, make a note of records you can access, such as unusual withdrawals, missing benefit deposits, unpaid bills, or unfamiliar names on accounts. A list of dates and amounts may help you describe what you noticed; you do not need to investigate it yourself.

Keep a simple log if concerns continue. For each entry, record the date, what happened, and who was involved. This can help you describe a pattern over time.

What to Do if the Concern Is Financial

Financial concerns may include unexplained transactions, suspected misuse of account authority, or pressure to transfer money or property. Whether particular conduct meets a legal definition depends on the facts.

Report the concern to DHSS through the hotline or online system. You may also consider these steps:

1. If you are authorized to speak with your parent's financial institution, ask how to report suspected fraud and what steps may be available. Each institution sets its own procedures.
2. If you are authorized to access relevant statements, note unfamiliar transactions and their dates and amounts.
3. If you suspect theft or coercion, contact local police or the sheriff's office to ask how to report it. Law enforcement decides whether to investigate, and a report does not guarantee that money will be recovered. Call 911 for an emergency.

These steps do not replace reporting the concern to DHSS.

What to Do if Your Parent Lives in a Facility

Report to DHSS through the same hotline at 1-800-392-0210 or the online reporting system. For reports that a facility resident was abused or neglected, Missouri law requires the department to start an investigation within 24 hours of receiving the report; that is a deadline to begin, not finish, the investigation (RSMo §198.070).

If it is safe and will not delay urgent help, consider putting your concern in writing to the facility administrator. Describe what you observed and when, and keep a copy.

For concerns about residents' rights or care quality, contact the Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 800-309-3282. It is an advocacy resource for long-term care residents and families; contacting it does not replace a report to DHSS.

Reporting from Out of State

You can report a concern from outside Missouri. Call the same hotline number or use the online system. Include your parent's Missouri address and county, if known, to help DHSS identify the appropriate local office. You may report anonymously; if you want follow-up, you can choose to leave your contact information.

What Happens After You Report

For a person living in the community, a DHSS Adult Protective Services investigator may work with the adult to identify services or interventions. Depending on the situation, these can include personal care, respite or chore services, nutrition support, or referrals to other community resources. Outcomes and available services vary. DHSS says a competent adult may refuse services. To follow up on a community report, contact the APS office in the county where the adult lives, as DHSS recommends.

For a facility report, RSMo §198.070 sets separate notice requirements. The department must notify the resident's next of kin or responsible party as soon as possible during the investigation about the report, the investigation, and whether the report was substantiated or unsubstantiated, unless that person is the alleged perpetrator. For a report required by the statute, the person who made it must receive written notice within five working days that it was received and the investigation started. These notice rules do not set a deadline for completing the investigation (RSMo §198.070).

What Qualifies as Reportable

DHSS accepts reports involving abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, bullying, and self-neglect concerns. Missouri law defines abuse to include physical, sexual, or emotional injury or harm, including financial exploitation and bullying. Neglect involves a failure by a person or organization with a legal or contractual duty to provide services to an eligible adult, when that failure creates imminent danger or a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm (RSMo §192.2400). If you are unsure how a concern fits, describe what you observed and let DHSS assess it.

Mandatory Reporters and Legal Protections

Anyone who suspects abuse, neglect, or exploitation can report it. Some professionals also have legal reporting duties. For facility residents, RSMo §198.070 requires specified professionals and people involved in care, including facility staff, to report when they have reasonable cause to believe a resident has been abused or neglected. The statute keeps reports confidential and bars facility officials from evicting, harassing, dismissing, or retaliating against a resident or employee because that resident or employee, or a family member, reported a suspected violation (RSMo §198.070).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I report anonymously?

Yes. If you do identify yourself, DHSS says your identity will remain confidential under state law.

Do I need proof before I report?

No. Describe what you observed and let DHSS determine whether an investigation is warranted.

What if my parent doesn't want help?

A competent adult may refuse services and interventions. You can still report your concern, but DHSS says no decisions are made about a competent adult without that person's involvement and consent. If you are unsure what to do, describe the situation to the intake worker.

What if I'm not sure it qualifies as abuse?

Describe what you observed to the intake worker. DHSS invites reports from anyone who suspects abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and can assess the concern.

For a complete guide to protecting an aging parent in Missouri — including screening caregivers, vetting facilities, and navigating state programs — see the Missouri Care Decision Toolkit.

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