Elder Abuse Reporting
What is Maine's Law on Elder Abuse Reporting
The Maine Adult Protective Services Act (22 MRS §§3470-3493), “recognizes that many adult citizens of the State, because of incapacitation or dependency, are unable to manage their own affairs or to protect themselves from abuse, neglect or exploitation” (see 22 MRS §3471).
22 MRS §3472(1) defines “abuse” as, “the infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or cruel punishment that causes or is likely to cause physical harm or pain or mental anguish; sexual abuse or sexual exploitation; financial exploitation; or the intentional, knowing or reckless deprivation of essential needs. ‘Abuse’ includes acts and omissions.” Subsection 9 defines “exploitation” as, “the illegal or improper use of an incapacitated or dependent adult or that adult's resources for another's profit or advantage.” Subsection 11 defines “neglect” as, “a threat to an adult's health or welfare by physical or mental injury or impairment, deprivation of essential needs or lack of protection from these.”
22 MRS §3477 addresses persons mandated to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation.
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