The Santa Clara County Adult Protective Services program provides
services to protect, prevent, and remedy abuse of elders and dependent
adults. Adult Protective Services strives to reduce risk, maintain and
enhance quality of life, promote self sufficiency and respect the right
to self determination.
Adult Protective Services follows these ethical principles and best practice guidelines:
- The concerns of elders and dependent adults are the starting point of any intervention.
- Elders and dependent adults have the right to make decisions that do
not conform to societal norms as long as these decisions do not harm
themselves or others.
- Elders and dependent adults are presumed to have decision making capacity unless a court adjudicates otherwise.
- Elders and dependent adults have the right to accept or refuse services.
- Adult Protective Services social workers avoid imposing personal values on elders and dependent adults.
- Adult Protective Services social workers respect the elder's and
dependent adult’s right to keep personal information confidential.
- Adult Protective Services social workers recognize and value
individual differences including cultural, historical and personal
beliefs of elders and dependent adults.
- Adult Protective Services social workers honor the right of elders
and dependent adults to receive information about their choices and
options in a form or manner that they can understand.