Mandatory reporting · Nursing home staff
Emergencies and official routes
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult in Missouri to the Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-0210, and reach the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 800-309-3282 for an independent advocate for residents.
If you hold a license or a certification, you may have mandatory reporting duties that a report to CareGuard does not discharge. Check your own obligations first; this page does not interpret them for you and is not legal advice.
CareGuard is a reporting channel to a facility’s owners. It is not an emergency service, it is not a regulator, and it is not a substitute for the official routes below. If the situation is on this page, use the official route first.
What should I do if a resident is in immediate danger?
Call 911. Do not send a form. Nothing on this site is monitored in real time.
How do I report elder abuse or neglect in Missouri?
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services runs the state’s adult protective services reporting line.
- Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline, open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week.
- Report online at moapss.health.mo.gov.
- Program information: health.mo.gov/safety/abuse.
- Relay Missouri, for callers who need interpreting assistance.
How do I reach the Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman?
The Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It is independent of the facility and of CareGuard.
- Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- Email: LTCOmbudsman@health.mo.gov
- Program information: health.mo.gov/seniors/ombudsman.
Does a CareGuard report go to the state?
A report sent through CareGuard goes to a facility’s owners and their attorneys. It is easy to assume, reasonably, that something described as a “confidential patient safety reporting system” reaches a government body. It does not. CareGuard told AHRQ in writing, on its PSO listing form, that it is not an entity that accredits or licenses health care providers and not an entity that oversees or enforces regulatory requirements. Anyone deciding where to take a serious concern should know that before they choose.
Can I call the state hotline and report to CareGuard too?
Using an official route does not close the CareGuard channel, and using CareGuard does not close the official one. If a facility’s ownership genuinely does not know what is happening in one of its buildings, telling them is still worth doing — after the call that needs to be made first.
If the situation is not one of the above
The CareGuard channel carries a concern to the facility’s ownership and its attorneys. It sits alongside the routes above, not in place of them.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Missouri Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline open?
The hotline at 1-800-392-0210 is open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week. It is run by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. You can also report online at moapss.health.mo.gov, and callers who need interpreting assistance can use Relay Missouri at 1-800-735-2966. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 instead.
Does a report to CareGuard meet my mandatory reporting duty?
No. If you hold a license or a certification, you may have mandatory reporting duties that a report to CareGuard does not discharge. CareGuard is a channel to a facility’s owners, not an emergency service or a regulator. Check your own obligations first and use the official route. This page does not interpret those duties for you and is not legal advice.
Is the CareGuard reporting form monitored around the clock?
No. Nothing on the CareGuard site is monitored in real time, so a form is the wrong tool when someone is in danger. Call 911 first. For suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult, call the Missouri Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline. You can still send a CareGuard report to ownership afterward, once the urgent call has been made.
Is the Long-Term Care Ombudsman part of the nursing home?
No. The Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is independent of the facility and of CareGuard. It advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. You can call the program at 800-309-3282 or email LTCOmbudsman@health.mo.gov. Use it when you have a concern about a long-term care facility and want an independent advocate for residents.