Residential Care Services Online Incident Reporting

For Provider Mandatory Report

Complete an Incident Report
(Mandated CRU Report)

 

RCS provides licensing, certification, and regulatory oversight to long-term care facilities including:

  • Adult Family Home Providers
  • Assisted Living Providers
  • Nursing Home Professionals
  • Certified Community Residential Services and Support (Supported Living)
  • Enhanced Services Facilities
  • Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Owners, caregivers, social workers, nurses, physicians and other employees of RCS licensed and/or certified facilities or agencies are mandated reporters and must report if they have reasonable cause to believe abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect has occurred to a vulnerable adult.  If you are not reporting on behalf of a licensed long-term care facility or certified supported living agency), please select the public online reporting page instead.   

This website is only for reporting incidents that do not require an emergency response. An emergency is any situation in which a vulnerable adult faces an immediate risk of abuse or neglect that could result in death or serious harm. 

Call 9-1-1 if a vulnerable adult is in an emergency situation.

To complete an Online Incident Report, you will need the license number and city in which the facility is located, or the certification number and city in which the agency's business office is located. 

If you have insufficient data to complete the information required in the Online Incident Report or experience difficulties completing the report, call the DSHS Complaint Resolution Unit toll-free Hotline 1-800-562-6078 to make a report.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Incident Reporting

What Do I need to Report?

Abuse

An action (that is not an accident) that injures, intimidates, punishes, or unreasonably confines a vulnerable adult. Abuse can be physical, mental, sexual, or coercive.

Possible signs of abuse:

  • Unexplained injuries, bruises
  • Fear, withdrawal or agitation

Abandonment

A person with a responsibility for a vulnerable adult leaves him or her without a way to obtain basic life necessities.

Possible signs of abandonment:

  • A vulnerable adult is left alone in the home
  • A vulnerable adult calls for aid or help

Neglect

A person with a responsibility for a vulnerable adult fails to provide necessary goods or services, fails to prevent physical or mental harm or puts the vulnerable adult in danger.

Possible signs of neglect:

  • Sudden decline in physical health, such as weight loss or skin ulcers
  • Untreated injuries or illness

Financial Exploitation

The illegal or improper use of the property, income, resources, or trust funds of the vulnerable adult.

Possible signs of financial exploitation:

  • Disappearance of property/possessions
  • Sudden change in a will or a transfer of assets
When Do I Report to DSHS?

If you are a mandated reporter and have reasonable cause to believe abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation or neglect has occurred to a vulnerable adult you must immediately report to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

If the vulnerable adult lives in a facility or receives supported living services: Call the DSHS Complaint Resolution Unit toll-free Hotline 1-800-562-6078 OR submit an Online Incident Report.

If the vulnerable adult lives in their own home or a facility: report by phone or submit an Online Incident Report.

Adult Protective Services

Making a False Report

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 74.34.053 Failure to report — False reports — Penalties

Section (2) states that a person who intentionally, maliciously, or in bad faith makes a false report of alleged abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult is guilty of a misdemeanor.

What to Expect After Making a Report

The report will be triaged and prioritized for investigation when there is RCS jurisdiction. An RCS staff member may contact the reporter for more information. All reports are confidential (public disclosure or other state and federal regulations may apply).

Links to Other Relevant Websites