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 service 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 acct/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 St. Louis County contact the Common Entry Point at 218-726-2164 or (800) 450-9777. If you do not reach a worker, leave a mesage. If your situation is an emergency call 9-1-1 to reach your local law enforcement.
What do I report?
- Time and date of report
- Name, address and phone number of reporter
- Time, date & location of incident
- Names, addresses, birth date or age of alleged perpetrator & victim
- Names of witnesses; AND
- Risk of imminent danger to alleged victim.
For more information visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Adult Protective Services website.