Adult Protection for Vulnerable Adults

Adult Protection for Vulnerable Adults

Adult Protection Services focus on ensuring safe environments and services for adults who may not be able to protect themselves.

Who is a Vulnerable Adult?

A vulnerable adult is a person 18 years of age or older who:
• Is in a hospital, nursing home, transitional care unit, assisted living, housing with services, board and care, foster care or other licensed care facility
• Receives services such as home care, day services, personal care assistance or other licensed services.
• Has a physical, mental or emotional disorder that makes it difficult for the person to care for themselves without help and to protect themselves from maltreatment

 What is considered Maltreatment of a Vulnerable Adult?

Types of Maltreatment:
• Abuse, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, use of restraints, involuntary seclusion or punishment
• Neglect, including failure to provide necessary food, shelter, clothing, health care or supervision because of neglect by a caregiver or because the vulnerable adult cannot meet their own needs
• Financial exploitation, including theft or withholding of money or property and/or use of money or property not for the vulnerable adult's benefit.

 How Do I Make a Vulnerable Adult Report?

The Minnesota Vulnerable Adult Reporting Center has been developed to make reporting easier and to assure the highest quality of communication between state and county protective services.

 • Call 844-880-1574

• Operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

If someone requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance, the reporter must call 911 and then make the mandated report of suspected maltreatment of a vulnerable adult.

Out-of state maltreatment: Reporters reporting any allegation of suspected maltreatment of a vulnerable adult that did not occur in Minnesota must make the report to the state in which the allegation occurred. The National Adult Protective Services Association has information for reporting in all states. 

http://www.napsa-now.org/get-help/help-in-your-area/

 Adult Protection Brochure https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-6778E-ENG

Adult Protection Resources List https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/AP-resources_tcm1053-285717.pdf