For an older adult in New York City, anyone can refer a suspected case of abuse or neglect to Adult Protective Services (APS) through the DSS OneNumber at 718-557-1399, and an aide should tell the agency’s nurse supervisor at once. For a child, the state’s reporting rules name some home care agency employees as mandated reporters, and the child abuse number is 1-800-342-3720. In an emergency, call 911.
Is a home health aide a mandated reporter in New York?
It depends on who is at risk. New York’s mandatory reporting law, Social Services Law section 413, is about child abuse and maltreatment. A federal summary of that law lists employees of health home-care agencies, or of home- and community-based services, who are expected to have regular and substantial contact with children. The state’s shorter resource-center list of mandated professions does not spell out home care aides, so ask your agency how it classifies your role.
For adults, we could not find a New York law that makes every aide a mandated reporter for elder abuse. That does not mean you should stay silent. HRA says APS clients can be referred by anyone, and an agency may require staff to report concerns to a nurse or supervisor under its own policies. Ask for yours, follow it, and use the numbers below.
| Situation | Who may or must report | Where to report |
|---|---|---|
| Suspected abuse or neglect of a child | Mandated reporters must report when they have reasonable cause to suspect. Any other person who has reasonable cause may also report. | Child abuse number 1-800-342-3720 (mandated reporters’ line 1-800-635-1522) |
| Suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older adult | Anyone, including aides, family and neighbors | NYC APS, DSS OneNumber 718-557-1399; statewide APS Helpline 1-844-697-3505 |
| Someone is in immediate danger or injured | Anyone | 911 |
| Concerns about an agency’s care or conduct | Anyone | DOH Home Health Hotline 1-800-628-5972 |
The legal standard is reasonable cause to suspect, not proof. Investigators decide what happened.
What are the warning signs of elder abuse and neglect?
The New York State Office for the Aging lists five types of elder abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation and neglect, including self-neglect. It estimates that elder abuse affects about 300,000 older New Yorkers a year, and says that informal caregivers, family and friends are most often the people responsible.
NYSOFA lists these signs to watch for:
| Area | What NYSOFA lists |
|---|---|
| Body and hygiene | Bruises, burns, scars, poor hygiene |
| Money | Changes in banking or spending |
| Mood and thinking | Depression, confusion, acting withdrawn |
| Relationships | Isolation from friends and family |
| Nutrition and medicines | Seeming underfed, dehydrated, overmedicated or under-medicated |
| Care | Lack of needed medical care |
NYSOFA adds that people who are socially isolated, lonely or who have Alzheimer’s disease or other neurocognitive impairments are at greater risk. A single sign is not proof, but a pattern is worth reporting.
How do I report suspected abuse of an older adult in NYC?
- Call 911 first if the person is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help.
- Tell the agency’s RN supervisor or coordinator the same day (if you are an aide). Say what you saw and heard, with dates and times.
- Refer the person to APS. Call the DSS OneNumber at 718-557-1399, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Say “Adult Protective Services” when prompted. You can also call the borough APS office: Brooklyn 718-722-4830 or 718-722-4812, Queens 718-883-8254.
- Or call the statewide APS Helpline at 1-844-697-3505, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Know what happens next. HRA says that if the person is eligible for an assessment, a home visit will be made within three business days, or within 24 hours if the situation is life-threatening.
- Write down facts, not conclusions, and keep a copy of what you reported and when. You do not need to investigate or confront anyone.
For concerns about the agency itself, the DOH Home Health Hotline at 1-800-628-5972 takes complaints; see its complaints page. APS details are on the HRA Adult Protective Services page, and the state’s elder abuse information is on the NYSOFA elder abuse page.
What if a child is at risk? What HHAs and agencies should know
If an aide works in a home where a child may be abused or neglected, the child abuse reporting rules apply. These details come from the federal Child Welfare Information Gateway’s summary of New York law and the state’s Mandated Reporter Resource Center.
- Report suspicions. Call 1-800-342-3720 (the child abuse line). Mandated reporters also have a hotline at 1-800-635-1522. Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger.
- Notify the person in charge. When a staff member reports in their role, they must also immediately tell the person in charge of the agency or their designated agent.
- Include your name and contact information. The law says the report shall include the reporter’s name and contact information.
- Know your protections. The law says an agency may not take retaliatory personnel action against an employee because the employee believes there is reasonable cause to suspect abuse and makes a report.
- Get the training. Employers of mandated reporters must give written information about the requirements, and the Mandated Reporter Resource Center, funded by the Office of Children and Family Services, offers free training for all mandated reporters at nysmandatedreporter.org.
What if the person I suspect is the aide?
Families sometimes suspect their own caregiver. Call 911 if anyone is in danger. Tell the agency’s supervisor, refer the older adult to APS and, if you are unhappy with how the agency responds, call the DOH Home Health Hotline. You can also check whether the aide appears in the Department of Health’s registry. Its convictions and findings section is limited and covers New York State only, as we explain in our guide to checking the NYS Home Care Registry. Our guide to choosing a home care agency covers supervision questions to ask.
What our nurse director tells aides to report
Anna Klyauzova, RN, MSN, MPA, Director of Patient Services at ProLife Home Care, on what she sees in practice:
The signs that worry me are loss of interest in things the person used to enjoy, refusing food, trouble sleeping, withdrawing and constant sadness. Aides report these to the nurse, and we ask the family to see a doctor. Depression is not a normal part of getting older.
Changes like these can have many causes, including illness, grief and depression, so they are not proof of abuse. They are, however, exactly what should reach the nurse. Our nurse services and in-home care pages describe how supervision works.
Where can I get help arranging safe care?
ProLife Home Care is a licensed home care agency in Brooklyn and Queens (NY DOH license #2572L001). If you are worried about a loved one’s care or need to set up supervised help, call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page. For long-term caregiving at home, see our pages on respite care and dementia care at home.
Checked on 9 October 2026 against the HRA Adult Protective Services page, NYSOFA’s elder abuse page, the NYS Mandated Reporter Resource Center, the federal Child Welfare Information Gateway summary of Social Services Law 413 (May 2023) and DOH’s home care profile pages. Telephone numbers and rules change; confirm them before you call. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do home health aides have to report elder abuse in New York?
We could not find a state law that makes every aide a mandated reporter for elder abuse. Anyone may refer an older adult to Adult Protective Services, and an agency may require aides to tell a nurse or supervisor. Ask for your agency’s policy, follow it, and refer to APS.
Are home health aides mandated reporters of child abuse?
The federal summary of New York’s law lists employees of health home-care agencies who are expected to have regular and substantial contact with children. The state’s shorter resource-center list does not name aides, so ask your agency. Any person who suspects child abuse may report.
What number do I call to report child abuse in New York?
1-800-342-3720. Mandated reporters also have a hotline at 1-800-635-1522. Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger.
How do I report elder abuse in New York City?
Call the DSS OneNumber at 718-557-1399 (Monday to Friday, 9 to 5) and ask for Adult Protective Services, or use the borough office (Brooklyn 718-722-4830, Queens 718-883-8254). The statewide APS Helpline is 1-844-697-3505. Call 911 in an emergency.
Can I report abuse anonymously?
We did not find a confirmed policy on the pages we checked. For child abuse, New York law says reports shall include the reporter’s name and contact information. Ask APS or the hotline how your information is handled before you call.
Will I lose my job if I report my concern?
For child abuse reports, New York law prohibits an agency from taking retaliatory personnel action against an employee because they made a report. For other concerns, ask your agency for its written policy.
