What is the Vulnerable Adults Act?
The Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act (Minnesota Statutes 626.557 – 626.5572) declares that it is the public policy of Minnesota to protect adults who, because of physical or mental disability or dependency on institutional services, are particularly vulnerable to maltreatment; to assist in providing safe environments for vulnerable adults; and to provide safe institutional or residential services, community-based services, or living environments for vulnerable adults who have been maltreated. Additionally, it is the state policy to require the reporting of suspected maltreatment of vulnerable adults by certain persons, and to provide for the voluntary reporting of maltreatment of vulnerable adults, to require the investigation of the reports, and to provide protective and counseling services in appropriate cases. Readers are encouraged to access the Vulnerable Adults Act statutory language, particularly the definitions of a vulnerable adult, mandated reporter, and maltreatment (abuse, n
