Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 13 - Protective Services Agency
Chapter 171 - Division of Adult Protective Services
Section I-17101 - Statement of Policy

A. The Department of Health and Hospitals is committed to preserving and protecting the rights of individuals to be free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, or extortion.

B. In pursuit of this commitment and in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 14:403.2, and R.S. 15:1501-15:1511 the Department of Health and Hospitals names the Office of Aging and Adult Services, Division of Adult Protective Services (APS) as the Protective Services Agency in order to provide protection to persons ages 18-59 with mental, physical, or developmental disabilities that substantially impair the person's ability to provide adequately for his/her own protection.

C. The primary function of Adult Protective Services is to investigate and/or assess reports of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or extortion consistent with the criteria contained in R.S. 14.403.2 and R.S. 15:1501-15:1511 to determine if the situation and condition of the subject of the report warrant further action and, if so, to prepare and implement a plan aimed at remedying or improving the situation. Adult Protective Services staff will provide protective services to each individual in need of protection until that person's situation has stabilized, that person is no longer at risk from the situation described in the report, or that person, having demonstrated the capacity to do so, refuses assistance.