What are abuse, neglect and exploitation?
• Abuse is mental, emotional, physical, or sexual injury to a child or person 65 years or older or an adult with disabilities or failure to prevent such injury. • Neglect of a child includes failure to provide a child with food, clothing, shelter and/or medical care; and/or leaving a child in a situation where the child is at risk of harm. • Neglect of a person 65 years or older or an adult with disabilities that results in starvation, dehydration, over- or under-medication, unsanitary living conditions, and lack of heat, running water, electricity, medical care, and personal hygiene. • Exploitation is misusing the resources of a person 65 years or older or an adult with disabilities for personal or monetary benefit. This includes taking Social Security or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) checks, abusing a joint checking account, and taking property and other resources.
Related Questions
- Does the department disclose information about final findings of abuse, abandonment, neglect and financial exploitation?
- Who is required to report abuse, neglect or exploitation of children to the Department of Health and Human Services?
- Who are the agencies responding to elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation?
