Vulnerable Adults

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 to 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 / funds through harassment / undue influence / duress / deception / fraud and                 -  Forces / compels / coerces / entices VA to perform services for another’s advantage.

Contact: If you suspect maltreatment of a Vulnerable Adult in Yellow Medicine County, contact the toll freeMN Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) hotline at 1-844-880-1574. This phone line is intended for use by the general 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.