Adult Protection Staff investigates mistreatment of at-risk adults. This mistreatment may be in the form of Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation.
Abuse
- Infliction of physical pain or injury, such as substantial or multiple skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, dehydration, burns, bone fractures, poisoning, subdural hematoma, soft tissue swelling, or suffocation.
- Unreasonable confinement or restraint
- Subjection to consensual sexual contact or conduct
Neglect
- Caretaker Neglect – Adequate food, clothing, shelter, psychological care, physical care, medical care, or supervision is not secured for the at-risk adult or is not provided by a caretaker in a timely manner and with the degree of care that a reasonable person in the same situation would exercise.
- Self Neglect – An act or failure to act whereby an at-risk adult substantially endangers the adult’s health, safety, welfare, or life by not seeking or obtaining services necessary to meet the adult’s essential human needs.
- Choice of lifestyle or living arrangements is not, by itself, evidence of self-neglect.
Exploitation
- The illegal or improper use of an at-risk adult – or the adult’s resources for another person’s profit or advantage.