Adults with disabilities may be vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Richmond County Departments of Social Services receive and evaluate reports to determine whether disabled adults require protective services. Disabled adults reported to be abused, neglected, or exploited and in need of protective services are eligible to receive this service regardless of income.

Adult Protective Services (APS) protects adults by:

• Receiving reports and evaluating the need for protective services
• Planning with the disabled adult, family, or caregiver to identify and prevent abuse, neglect, or exploitation
• Reporting evidence of mistreatment to the District Attorney and various regulatory agencies
• Initiating court action as necessary to protect the adult
• Mobilizing essential services on behalf of the disabled adult
• Providing Medicaid Transportation Uni,t which transports Medicaid recipients  to/from medical providers 
  
  

Guardianship Services

are provided to individuals alleged to be incompetent or declared incompetent by the court. Guardianship is a legal relationship in which the clerk of the superior court authorizes someone (the guardian) to be the substitute decision-maker for an incompetent adult (the ward). Incompetence is determined in a court proceeding and means an adult cannot manage his/her affairs or make important decisions.  

APS Guardian Services Include:

• Assessing an individual's need for guardianship
• Locating the appropriate person(s) to serve as guardian(s)
• Petitioning or assisting the individual's family for the adjudication of incompetence and the appointment of a guardian
• Ongoing casework when the agency director or assistant director has been appointed as guardian

Responsibilities of the Guardian Include:

• Making decisions about where the individual will live
• Authorizing medical treatment, managing the individual's finances
• Filing status a report and accounting with the court

The State/County Special Assistance In-Home Program for Adults (SA/IH) provides a cash supplement to low-income individuals at risk of entering a residential facility and offers additional support services and income to individuals who prefer to live at home.

Representative Payee Services

This program provides money management services to ensure that the individual's income is used for housing, food, clothing, counseling, case management, and a more stable lifestyle.

Adult Home Specialist 

Elderly and disabled adults who may require 24-hour supervision and help with activities of daily living sometimes live in Adult Care Homes. Richmond County Adult Home Specialists monitor and investigate reports regarding these assisted living homes.