Adult Protection & Senior Services

Sexual abuse is any non-consensual sexual contact. Sexual abuse includes:

Note: Any sexual contact between a facility staff person such as a nursing home, adult family home, boarding home, or supportive living and a vulnerable adult is considered nonconsensual.

Mental or emotional abuse is the intentional action or inaction of mental or verbal abuse.

Mental abuse includes: intimidation, coercion, ridicule, harassment; treating an adult like a child; isolating an adult from family, friends, or regular activity; use of silence to control behavior; yelling or swearing resulting in mental distress.

Neglect or self-neglect means that, through action or inaction, by themselves or someone else, a vulnerable adult is deprived of care needed to maintain physical or mental health. This does not include a competent person who decides to live in a way that may threaten their safety or well-being.

Neglect or self-neglect includes: untreated or improperly attended medical conditions, poor personal hygiene; unsafe living conditions, such as no heat; unsanitary living quarters, such as no toilet; lack of appropriate clothing; lack of necessary medical aids; failure to take medications as prescribed.

Exploitation is exerting undue influence or forcing a vulnerable adult to perform services for the benefit of others. Financial exploitation is the illegal or improper use of the property, resources or income of a vulnerable adult for another person’s profit or gain.

Examples of exploitation include: An adult relative living in the home of a vulnerable adult without contributing to the household. An unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family.

Abandonment is leaving a vulnerable adult without the ability to get necessary food, clothing, shelter, or health care. An example of abandonment includes a caregiver deserts the individual in a public place or in their own home.