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 are in need of 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) protect 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 Unit which transports Medicaid recipients  to/from medical providers 
  
  

Guardianship Services

are provided to individuals who are alleged to be incompetent or declared incompetent by the court. Guardianship is a legal relationship in which someone (the guardian) is authorized by the clerk of superior court to be substitute decision maker for an incompetent adult (the ward). Incompetence is determined in a court proceeding and means an adult is unable to manage his own affairs, or is unable to 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

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

Representative Payee Services

This program provides money management services to assure that the individual's income is used for their benefit 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 Specialist monitor and investigate reports regarding these assisted living homes.