Who is required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults?
Washington state law requires that all: • DSHS employees, • law enforcement officers, • social workers, • professional school personnel, • individual providers, • employees and operators of care facilities, • employees of social service, welfare, mental health, adult day health, adult day care, home health, home care and hospice agencies, • medical examiners, • Christian Science practitioners, • and health care providers call 911 and DSHS immediately if there is a reason to suspect physical or sexual assault of a vulnerable adult or if there is reasonable cause to believe that an act has caused fear of imminent harm. Further, if they have reason to believe that abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult has occurred, mandated reporters must immediately report to DSHS.
