Appendix 1 

Glossary of Terms in the APS Guidelines1 

1 Terms in red italics in the defnition column are defned in the glossary. 
2 Appendix 1 | Updated National Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State Adult Protective Service Systems 

 

 

 

 

Term Defnition 

Adult maltreatment The physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; fnancial exploitation; neglect; 

and/or self-neglect of an adult (18 years or older) who is vulnerable to 

maltreatment by someone with whom they have a known relationship. 

Alleged victim The person who is the subject of a report to APS of suspected adult 

maltreatment. Once APS screens in the report for investigation and creates 

a service plan, this person is referred to as an APS client. 

APS systems The agency(ies) invested by a governmental or tribal jurisdiction with the 

responsibility and power to accept and investigate reports of suspected 

adult maltreatment, and to provide or arrange for the provision of needed 

social, health, legal, and other services for their clients. Multiple APS 

systems may exist in a single jurisdiction. 

Case The designation given to a report of suspected adult maltreatment once it 

has been accepted by an APS system for investigation. 

Findings/Determinations The terms that describe the assessment of the APS worker as to the 

• Confrmed determination that adult maltreatment has or has not occurred in a 

• Inconclusive particular case: 

• Unfounded • Confrmed: Adult maltreatment likely occurred. 

• Inconclusive: Adult maltreatment may or may not have occurred. 

• Unfounded: Adult maltreatment has likely not occurred. 

Client The person who is the subject of an APS investigation and service plan. 

Forensic center A multidisciplinary team (MDT) that includes a geriatrician and a licensed 

psychologist. In addition to providing advice as a regular MDT, the forensic 

center (FC) members take on assignments such as visiting the client at 

home in order to conduct a capacity assessment or a medication review and 

reporting back to the FC team. FC teams typically meet weekly (as opposed to 

monthly for MDTs). 

Investigation The process of fact-fnding as to whether or not adult maltreatment has 

occurred. This is done by interviewing the client, the alleged perpetrator, 

and ancillary sources of information. It may also involve reviewing relevant 

documents (e.g., bank statements). 

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) or Team comprised of professionals from a variety of disciplines working 

interdisciplinary team (I-team) together on an ongoing basis to combat adult maltreatment. Types of MDTs: 

• Hospital-based (geriatric/medical assessment team) 

• Financial abuse specialist team (FAST) 

• Vulnerable adult specialist team (VAST) 

• Elder abuse forensic center (EAFC) 

• Fatality review team 

• Hoarding team 

• Enhanced MDTs 

• General MDTs (also I-teams) 

Residential care facility Any setting, whether regulated or licensed by the state or not, where several 

adults with disabilities or older adults live together and receive care from 

people who are not related to them and who receive compensation for 

providing that care. Examples include, but are not limited to: 

• Congregate care 

• Personal care homes 

• Enriched housing programs 

• Homes serving primarily people with chronic mental illness 

• Homes serving primarily older adults 

• Board and care facilities 

• Adult foster homes 

• Nursing homes 
 

Term Defnition 

Screened in reports Reports to APS of suspected adult maltreatment that have been through 

an initial review process and have been found to be eligible to become 

APS cases. 

Vulnerable (to adult maltreatment) Refers to the presence of physical, mental, or social conditions that 

compromise an adult’s ability to protect him- or herself from maltreatment.2 

To see the updated Guidelines, go to: https://acl.gov/programs/elder-justice/final-voluntary-consensusguidelines-state-aps-systems. 

2 Teaster, P.B., Anetzberger, G.J., & Heisler, C.J. (In Press). Introduction. In P. Teaster, C. Heisler, & G. Anetzberger 

(Eds.), Ethics and vulnerable elders: The quest for individual rights and a just society. San Diego, CA: Cognella. 

Appendix 1 | Updated National Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State Adult Protective Service Systems 3