How Does the State of Minnesota Define a Vulnerable Adult?
Under Minn. Stat. section 626.5572 sebd.21 a vulnerable adult is defined as a person 18 years or older who:
- Receives certain services from a qualified provider
OR - Regardless of services received, possesses physical, mental, or emotional infirmity or dysfunction
What is the purpose of this definition?
- To trigger a mandated report
- To guide responders
- To guide law enforcement
Here are some factors to consider in determining if someone is a Vulnerable Adult:
- Current medical condition
- Current financial condition
- Living arrangements
- Involvement of family members/friends/neighbors
- Recent life events (death of a spouse, inheritance, change in medical condition)
Red Flags – financial exploitation:
- Opening new bank account or unusual bank activity
- Checks being signed by someone other than the vulnerable adult
- Accumulation of bills or debts even though a power of attorney document exists
- Recent signature of power of attorney, joint checking account, mortgage documents
- Use of the vulnerable adults’ debit/credit card for purchases uncharacteristic to the vulnerable adult
- Large even sums withdrawn from the vulnerable adult’s accounts
- Removing all forms of communication between the vulnerable adult and others
- Firing of caregivers
- Change in doctors
- Significant financial changes with no advice from the attorney or financial advisor
Red Flags – personal/emotional abuse:
- Poor personal hygiene
- Withdrawal
- Loneliness
- Depression
- Paranoia
- Confusion or disorientation
- Loss of weight/dehydration
- Recent company by unfamiliar family or friend, wandering
- Memory loss of recent events/family
Who are mandated reporters under the statute?
A mandated reporter is a professional or professional’s delegate while engaged in:
- Social services
- Law enforcement
- Education
- The care of vulnerable adults
- Any of the health related occupations referred to in Minn. Stat. section 214.01, subd. 2 including:
- Board of examiners of nursing home administrators
- Office of Unlicensed complementary and alternative health care practice
- Board of medical practice
- Board of nursing
- Board of chiropractic examiners
- Board of optometry
- Board of physical therapy
- Board of psychology
- Board of social work
- Board of marriage and family therapy
- Office of mental health practice
- Board of behavioral health and therapy
- A person that performs the duties of the medical examiner or coroner
- Board of dietetics and nutrition practice
- Board of dentistry
- Board of pharmacy
- Board of podiatric medicine
- Veterinary medicine
- Any employee of a rehabilitation facility certified by the commissioner of jobs and training for vocational rehabilitation
- Any employee or person providing services in a facility as defined in subdivision 6
- A person that performs the duties of the medical examiner or coroner
Anyone can be a voluntary reporter. Note that attorneys, financial planners and Certified Public Accountants are not mandated reporters.
If you need to make a report the common entry point number for:
- Hennepin County is 612-348-8526
- Ramsey county is 651 266-4012
For the common entry points for other counties go to the Minnesota Board on Aging or call the Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433.
