Vulnerable Adult Reporting

Identifying who is a Vulnerable Adult (VA) and what is maltreatment can be challenging for many different reasons.  The following information may assist you in understanding vulnerable adult maltreatment reporting.

 

Who is a Vulnerable Adult?

Categorical Vulnerable Adult:

Any person 18 years of age or older who is a:

  • Resident or inpatient of a facility regulated by the State of Minnesota, or
  • Receives services from a facility regulated by the State of Minnesota, or
  • Recipient of home care services regulated by the State of Minnesota

 

Functional Vulnerable Adult:

A person 18 years of age or older who, regardless of residence or services, has an impairment or disability and because of this impairment has:

  • An impaired ability to meet basic needs without assistance including the provision of food, shelter, clothing, health care, or supervision, and                       
  • An impaired ability to protect self from maltreatment.

 

How is maltreatment defined?

Abuse:

  • Physical: hitting, slapping, kicking, pinching, biting or corporal punishment
  • Emotional: repeated or malicious oral, written, or gestured language or treatment that would be considered disparaging, derogatory, humiliating, harassing or threatening
  • Mental: Unauthorized aversive/deprivation procedures; unreasonable confinement/seclusion
  • Sexual: Criminal sexual conduct 1st – 5th degrees
  • Involuntary Servitude: forcing, compelling, or coercing or enticing a vulnerable adult to provide services for the advantage of another; and use of drugs in injure or facilitate a crime

 

Neglect:

  • Failure or omission to provide for basic needs:  food, clothing, shelter, medical care or supervision
  • Absence of care or services essential to maintain health and safety
  • Neglect may be by caregiver or self-neglect

 

Financial Exploitation:

  • Person has fiduciary relationship: guardian/conservator/power of attorney/joint Account/contract/documented consent/etc. and there is unauthorized expenditure of funds or failure to use funds for VA and resulting or likely to result in detriment to VA.
  • Person has no fiduciary relationship and
    • Willfully uses/withholds/disposes of funds/property of VA
    • Obtains for self or another services to the detriment of the VA
    • Acquires possession/control/interest in VA’s property through harassment/undue influence/duress/deception/ fraud
    • Forces/compels/Coerces/entices VA to perform services for another’s advantage
 

Contact: If you suspect maltreatment of a Vulnerable Adult in Swift County, contact the toll free Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) at 1-888-880-1574. The DHS website is http://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/seniors/services/adult-protection/

This phone line is intended for use by the public and is staffed 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  If your situation is an emergency, call 9-1-1 to reach your local law enforcement agency.

APS Prioritization Guidelines