Transcript Vulnerable Adults

Vulnerable Adults
And You!
Who is a Vulnerable Adult?
Any person 18 years or older who receives services
from a facility such as …
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Nursing home
Hospital
Home health agency
Personal care organization
Chemical and mental health treatment
facility
Licensed residential facility
Are All Consumers Protected –
Each and every one of ProAct’s
consumers is afforded protection under
the Minnesota Vulnerable Adult Laws!
Even those who do quite well standing up for
themselves.
Types of Abuse?
Physical or Emotional
Produces physical or emotional pain or injury whether
intended or not.
Verbal
Words or Gestures that threaten, harass, disparage, or
humiliate
Sexual
Sexual contact between facility staff and consumer
Financial Exploitation
Unauthorized use of Consumer’s money or personal
property that is detrimental to his or her personal income,
finances, or financial worth
What is Neglect?
Premeditated decision to fail to supply a VA
with care or services including:
 Food
 Clothing
At appropriate levels
necessary for a positive
 Shelter
lifestyle
 Health Care
 Supervision
Reporting Suspected
Vulnerable Adult Law
Violations
Mandated Reporters
Any professional engaged in the care of
vulnerable adults or
Any employee of a facility that provides
services to a vulnerable adult.
This means YOU.
Liability of the Reporter
A person making a report in good
faith is immune from civil liability.
However, a person making a false
report is subject to civil action.
Responses to Vulnerable
Adult Maltreatment Reports
So now that you’ve reported a
possible VA law violation,
what can you expect?
Remember- the law is there to
protect you too!
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Protect adults who are vulnerable to
maltreatment
Provide safe living and working
environments for adults who have been
maltreated
Assist persons charged with the care of
vulnerable adults to provide safe
environments
Players Under the Act:
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Common Entry Point
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Adult Protective Services
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Lead Agencies
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Law Enforcement
What is a Common Entry
Point (CEP)?
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An Entity designated by County Board
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Receives & dispatches reports of vulnerable
adult maltreatment
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Triages emergency and APS issues
Type of
Common Entry Points
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Social Services
Generally Monday through Friday 8:00 AM –
5:00 PM
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Law Enforcement Center
Generally Evenings, holidays, weekends
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Private Agencies
Information Collected by CEP’s
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Names of alleged VA and alleged violator
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Address, phone number and fax number of
each person mentioned in the report
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Birth date of VA and alleged violator
What does the CEP do with
the report?
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Referred to a Lead Agency
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Referred to APS
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Referred to law enforcement
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Other ?
And some more things
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Name of initial reporter
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Specifics of incident – what happened?
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Witnesses and collateral sources of information
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Date, time, and place of incident
What are Adult Protective Services
(APS)?
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Provided by County Social Service Staff
when there is an immediate risk of current
harm
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May be referred by CEP or other form of
adult intake
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Does not require a maltreatment or
vulnerable adult report.
Examples of Immediate Risk:
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The VA is without food or shelter, with no support
system or plan
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There is an absence of necessary supervision to
prevent harm
 Medical
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Treatment Issues
Untreated physical injury
No access to essential care
Refusing essential care
More Examples of Immediate
Risk:
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The incapacity of the VA results in an inability to
access help
Isolation issues with evidence of a serious
problem
 Sexual
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Assault!
A need to arrange a SARS exam
A need to remove the perpetrator or VA from a
shared residence
Identifying Support Systems
Is there a formal or informal support system for
the adult?
None at all?
Family, friends, church?
Names & phone numbers of support?
What does the support provide?
Does the support help or hinder?
Identify some more
support systems
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Are there any agencies working with the VA?
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Clinics?
Home Care?
Social Worker?
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What services are received by the VA?
Meals on Wheels?
Visiting Nurse?
What has been the response?
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What action has already been taken?
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By whom?
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Names, phone numbers?
Hazard & Safety Info!
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Weapons
Violent Household Members
Current Threats of Harm
Dangerous Animals
Vermin (rats, bugs, lawyers)
Structural Damage
Hoarder Behaviors
Environmental Hazards
Let’s review the key players
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Common Entry Point
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Adult Protective Services
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Lead Agencies
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Law Enforcement
We’ve just discussed:
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Common Entry Point (CEP)
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Adult Protective Services (APS)
So now you’re
asking yourself -
What are Lead Agencies?
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An agency responsible for investigating VA
violations – there are three kinds:
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OHFC – MDH
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Licensing – DHS
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Counties
Who investigates where?
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State lead agencies are responsible for
facility investigations
County is responsible when:
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Maltreatment is not related to a facility
Maltreatment occurs in a community setting
What Kind of Facilities?
Health Department – OHFC such as:
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Nursing Homes
Hospitals
Board & Care Facilities
Home Health Care Agencies
Oh, is that all?
No! Check these out.
Licensed DHS Facilities such as:
Group Homes
AFC
Adult Day Care
Hey!
That sounds like it
might include
ProAct!
It does.
What about the
Counties?
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The law says “ALL OTHER!”
Families
Private homes
Board & Lodges
Perhaps even PCPO’s
Schools
Work Settings
Etc., etc., etc.
Hey!
It does.
That sounds like it also
includes ProAct!
And now for Law Enforcement
What is Law Enforcement?
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Prosecutors (local, County, and State
Sheriff’s Department
Local Police
The Vulnerable Adult Act has very little
authority with law enforcement
We’ve covered a lot.
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Who is a vulnerable adult?
What is Abuse as defined by the VA Act?
What is neglect as defined by the VA Act?
Who is Mandated to Report?
Are you Mandated to Report?
Under what conditions?
What if you don’t report?
What steps do you take when you witness an
incident?