Definitions and Signs of Abuse
Definitions
“Abandonment” means action or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for an elder or a vulnerable adult that leaves the elder or vulnerable person without the means or ability to obtain essential services.
“Abuse” means a nonaccidental act of physical or mental mistreatment or injury, or sexual mistreatment, which harms a person through action or inaction by another individual.
“Exploitation” means the illegal or improper use of an elder or vulnerable adult or that person's income or resources, including trust funds, for another person's profit or advantage. Exploitation includes the imposition on the elder's time resources, such as leaving children or other persons in the care of the elder or vulnerable adult for extended periods or under circumstances in which the elder or vulnerable adult cannot adequately care for such children or other persons.
"Financial exploitation" can include sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money; adding additional names on bank signature cards; unauthorized withdrawal of funds using an ATM card; abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents; unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions; bills unpaid despite the money being available to pay them; forging a signature on financial transactions or for the titles of possessions; sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming rights to a vulnerable adult’s possessions; unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family; providing services that are not necessary; individual's report of exploitation.
“Neglect” means a pattern of conduct or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for an elder or vulnerable adult that results in the deprivation of essential services to the elder or vulnerable person.
"Self-neglect" means when a vulnerable adult fails to provide adequately for themselves and jeopardizes his/her well-being. Examples include a vulnerable adult living in hazardous, unsafe, or unsanitary living conditions or not having enough food or water.
What are some signs of elder/vulnerable adult abuse?
Suspicious or unexplainable bruises, sores, or weight loss; change in normal personality; neglect or inattention to hygiene, clothing, medication, food, or home; unexplainable financial changes or missing money and personal belongings; comments or statements that are intimidating, threatening, or degrading; individuals are kept from or are absent from normal activities with family, friends, or social events; regular appointments, such as medical or professional, are stopped without communication; uninvolved relatives and/or new individual(s) become involved and take over personal and financial matters.
Who is considered an elder or vulnerable adult?
“Abandonment” means action or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for an elder or a vulnerable adult that leaves the elder or vulnerable person without the means or ability to obtain essential services.
“Abuse” means a nonaccidental act of physical or mental mistreatment or injury, or sexual mistreatment, which harms a person through action or inaction by another individual.
“Exploitation” means the illegal or improper use of an elder or vulnerable adult or that person's income or resources, including trust funds, for another person's profit or advantage. Exploitation includes the imposition on the elder's time resources, such as leaving children or other persons in the care of the elder or vulnerable adult for extended periods or under circumstances in which the elder or vulnerable adult cannot adequately care for such children or other persons.
"Financial exploitation" can include sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money; adding additional names on bank signature cards; unauthorized withdrawal of funds using an ATM card; abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents; unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions; bills unpaid despite the money being available to pay them; forging a signature on financial transactions or for the titles of possessions; sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming rights to a vulnerable adult’s possessions; unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family; providing services that are not necessary; individual's report of exploitation.
“Neglect” means a pattern of conduct or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for an elder or vulnerable adult that results in the deprivation of essential services to the elder or vulnerable person.
"Self-neglect" means when a vulnerable adult fails to provide adequately for themselves and jeopardizes his/her well-being. Examples include a vulnerable adult living in hazardous, unsafe, or unsanitary living conditions or not having enough food or water.
What are some signs of elder/vulnerable adult abuse?
Suspicious or unexplainable bruises, sores, or weight loss; change in normal personality; neglect or inattention to hygiene, clothing, medication, food, or home; unexplainable financial changes or missing money and personal belongings; comments or statements that are intimidating, threatening, or degrading; individuals are kept from or are absent from normal activities with family, friends, or social events; regular appointments, such as medical or professional, are stopped without communication; uninvolved relatives and/or new individual(s) become involved and take over personal and financial matters.
Who is considered an elder or vulnerable adult?
- “Elder” means any person who is fifty-five (55) years of age or older.
- “Vulnerable adult” means a person eighteen (18) years of age or older who has the functional, mental, or physical inability to care for himself.
- “Vulnerable adult” shall include:
- (1) Persons found incapacitated or adult persons who are otherwise eligible for the appointment of a guardian under this Code;
- (2) A person who has a disability attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or another neurological or other condition of an individual found by the doctor to be closely related to mental retardation or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with mental retardation, which disability originates before the individual attains age eighteen, which has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and which constitutes a substantial handicap to the individual. The Agency shall adopt criteria which define neurological or other conditions under this Subpart in a way that is not limited to intelligence quotient scores as the sole determinant of these conditions and notify the Business Council upon such adoption; or
- (3) Persons admitted to any long-term care facility or receiving services from home health, hospice, or home care agencies located or operating on the Colville Reservation.
- “Vulnerable adult” shall include:
- Who has a developmental disability as defined under RCW 71A.10.020; or
- Admitted to any facility; or receiving services from home health, hospice, or home care agencies licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW; or
- Receiving services from an individual provider; or who self-directs his or her own care and receives services from a personal aide under chapter 74.39 RCW