Adult Protection
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.
If you suspect maltreatment of a Vulnerable Adult in Otter Tail County, contact the toll free MN Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) hotline. The 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 911 to reach your local law enforcement agency.
Who is a Vulnerable Adult?
A Categorical Vulnerable Adult is 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.
A Functional Vulnerable Adult is 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.
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.
For additional information regarding Vulnerable Adults and Adult Protection, visit the Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services webpage.