What’s the Difference Between APS and VASIA?

Protecting Vulnerable Adults in Our Community

When news stories highlight elder abuse or neglect, many people recognize the term Adult Protective Services (APS). Fewer people, however, understand the vital role of VASIA, Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults. Both serve the same at-risk population, but they do so in very different ways. Understanding the distinction is important for anyone who feels called to volunteer, especially those who want to make a direct and lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable adults in Johnson, Shelby, and Hancock counties.

APS: The First Response

APS serves as the first line of action when there are concerns of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Their work is often bureaucratic; focused on paperwork, investigation, and the legal steps needed to protect individuals. In Indiana, APS may:

• Receive reports of suspected abuse or neglect
• Conduct investigations to determine if someone is at risk
• Petition the court to establish guardianship if a person cannot safely make decisions on their own

APS is essential because it identifies individuals in need. Without its investigative role, many vulnerable adults would remain invisible. Yet, APS’s role largely ends once the court process begins.

VASIA: The Ongoing Advocate

Once APS has completed its initial work, the court may assign VASIA to step in. This is where the difference becomes clear. While APS identifies problems; VASIA solves them through action.

VASIA volunteers become the appointed guardians and advocates for incapacitated adults. They do not just fill out paperwork; they become a voice in the court system, provide guidance in medical and financial matters, and ensure ongoing care and dignity.

This program is deeply personal. A volunteer might:

• Speak on behalf of an adult in a court hearing
• Help secure health insurance or financial resources
• Connect someone with community services
• Make compassionate decisions about medical or end-of-life care

Where APS stops, VASIA continues; providing consistent advocacy and support to individuals who would otherwise be left without a champion.

How APS and VASIA Work Together

The partnership between APS and VASIA can be thought of as a handoff. APS begins the case; gathering information and petitioning the court. A judge then evaluates the need and, when guardianship is necessary, assigns VASIA to provide long-term advocacy.

This structure ensures that no one falls through the cracks. APS identifies urgent needs, while VASIA provides the steady, caring presence that helps vulnerable adults live with dignity and security.

Volunteer Training with VASIA

What makes VASIA unique is that it relies on volunteers, not government staff. To prepare, every volunteer receives in-depth training in areas such as:

• Guardianship Law 101; how guardianship is established, alternatives, and due process protections
• Conditions of Aging; understanding dementia, delirium, mental illness, and geriatric health concerns
• Paying for Long-Term Care; Medicare, Medicaid, and financial resources
• Palliative Care and Ethics; end-of-life decisions, standards of practice, and self-determination
• Adult Protective Services Overview; understanding the investigative role of APS and how cases transition to guardianship

This training equips volunteers to serve with knowledge, confidence, and compassion. Unlike APS professionals who investigate cases, VASIA volunteers bring heart, empathy, and ongoing support to every decision.

Why Volunteers Matter

For many seniors and incapacitated adults, there is no family to step in. Without a guardian, their voices are lost in a complicated legal and healthcare system. Volunteers in VASIA become the advocates who:

• Provide security by ensuring bills are paid and benefits are secured
• Serve as a voice in court when difficult legal decisions arise
• Offer a sense of family and community for those who would otherwise be neglected

This is not paperwork; it is servant leadership at its core. Volunteers bring hope and dignity to people who might otherwise be forgotten.

Be Part of the Solution

If you have ever wondered how you can make a real difference in your community, the answer may be through VASIA. By becoming a volunteer advocate, you step into a role of servant leadership; ensuring the most vulnerable are not left without support.

The difference between APS and VASIA is clear; APS investigates, but VASIA advocates. One identifies the need; the other carries it forward with compassion and persistence. Both are necessary, but it is VASIA volunteers who transform lives.

To join this mission and provide a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, visit our volunteer page and complete an application today. Your community; and the adults who are in need of help; are waiting for someone like you.