Reporting abuse, neglect and exploitation
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Missouri Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-800-392-0210 — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You may report anonymously.
Adults receiving in-home care are, by definition, people who depend on others. That dependence is what makes abuse possible and what makes it hard to report — the person harming you may be the person who feeds you, or your own child.
What to look for
Physical abuse
- Unexplained bruises, burns or fractures
- Injuries that do not match the explanation
- Repeated injuries, or delays in seeking care
- Flinching, or fear of a particular person
Neglect
- Untreated pressure sores or infections
- Poor hygiene, soiled bedding, unwashed clothes
- Weight loss, dehydration, missed medication
- Being left alone for unsafe periods
- A home without heat, water or food
Financial exploitation
- Money or belongings going missing
- Sudden changes to a will, deed or account
- Someone new controlling the finances
- Bills unpaid despite adequate income
- Being pressured to sign documents
Emotional abuse
- Threats, humiliation or intimidation
- Being isolated from family and friends
- Withdrawal, or a sudden personality change
- Someone insisting on speaking for the person
Self-neglect also counts and can also be reported — an adult unable to meet their own basic needs for food, shelter, hygiene or medical care, whether or not anyone else is at fault.
How to report
| Situation | Contact |
|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 911 |
| Abuse, neglect, exploitation or self-neglect of an adult | Missouri Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline, 1-800-392-0210 |
| Concern about a Communicare Elite attendant or employee | Call (314) 809-6655 — and report to the hotline as well |
| Mental health crisis | Call or text 988 |
| Suspected Medicaid fraud | See program integrity |
What you need in order to report
Less than people assume. You do not need proof, you do not need certainty, and you do not need to have witnessed anything. A reasonable concern is enough — investigating is the hotline’s job, not yours. Helpful details include the person’s name and address, what you observed, and when.
You will not be penalized for reporting in good faith. Missouri law protects good-faith reporters. Communicare Elite does not retaliate against anyone — participant, family member or attendant — for making a report.
Our attendants’ obligations
Attendants are trained to recognize and report abuse and neglect, including when the suspected source is a family member of the person they care for. An attendant who witnesses abuse and stays silent has failed at the job.
Attendants must also report to us promptly if they are themselves charged with or convicted of an offence while employed. See screening →
If you are the one being harmed
Being dependent on someone does not oblige you to accept how they treat you. If your attendant is the problem, you can discharge them — you are the employer — and you will not lose your services or your authorized hours by doing so. Call us at (314) 809-6655 and we will help arrange replacement care.