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Overview What is elder abuse? Signs of abuse Myths about elder abuse Rights of vulnerable adults Maintaining connections Current laws Legislative updates Laws by state Articles of interest COMMON FORMS OF ABUSE Many people mistakenly assume that only battered paople are abused. → More TAKE ACTION "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."             Dr. Margaret Mead Gary A. Jones When Gary Jones became sick with terminal cancer, his caregiver denied him visitation with his children. → More Click on a state to begin. The current laws in that state will be displayed below. Virginia In the state of Virginia, adult abuse is defined as the willful infliction of physical pain, injury or mental anguish or unreasonable confinement of an adult. Mental anguish means a state of emotional pain or distress resulting from activity (verbal or behavioral) of a perpetrator. The intent of the activity is to threaten or intimidate, to cause sorrow or fear, to humiliate or ridicule. There must be evidence that it is the perpetrator's activity that has caused the adult's feelings of pain or distress. Unreasonable confinement means the use of restraints (physical or chemical), isolation, or any other means of confinement without medical orders, when there is no emergency and for reasons other than the adult's safety or well-being, or the safety of others. Sexual abuse means an act committed with the intent to sexually molest, arouse, or gratify any person, where the accused intentionally touches the complaining witness's intimate parts or material directly covering such intimate parts. The accused forces the complaining witness to touch the accused's, the witnesses' own, or another person's intimate parts or material directly covering such intimate parts. The accused forces another person to touch the complaining witness's intimate parts or material directly covering such intimate parts. Exploitation means the illegal use of an incapacitated adult or his resources for another's profit or advantage. This includes acquiring a person's resources through the use of that person's mental or physical incapacity; the disposition of the incapacitated person's property by a second party to the advantage of the second party and to the detriment of the incapacitated person. Misuse of funds. Acquiring an advantage through threats to withhold needed support or care unless certain conditions are met; persuading an incapacitated adult to perform services including sexual acts to which the adult lacks the capacity to consent. Neglect means the knowing and willful failure by a responsible person to provide treatment, care, goods or services, which results in injury to the health or endangers the safety of an incapacitated adult. This also includes self-neglect. Here are some links for reference on elder abuse in the state of Virginia: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/pub/pdf/aps_policy.pdf http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/aps.html http://www.dss.virginia.gov/pub/pdf/aps_brochure.pdf http://www.co.campbell.va.us/.../adult_protective_services.htm