What is Adult Maltreatment

Adult maltreatment can take any of the specific forms defined in section 10-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes.

ABUSE is causing or allowing infliction of physical pain, injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, unreasonable restraint, confinement, mental anguish or deprivation of nutrition, clothing, shelter, health care, or other care or services without which serious physical or mental injury is likely to occur by a caretaker or other person responsible for providing services to a vulnerable adult.

NEGLECT is failure to provide protection, failure to provide adequate shelter, nutrition, healthcare, clothing, or causing/permitting harm or risk of harm through the action, inaction or lack of supervision by someone providing direct services to a vulnerable adult.

SELF NEGLECT is the action or inaction of a vulnerable adult that causes the adult to fail to meet essential requirements for his or her own physical and mental health and safety due to the adult's lack of awareness or lack of ability.

EXPLOITATION is the improper use of a vulnerable adult's financial, real or personal resources, for the benefit of another person through the use of undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false representation or false pretense.

VERBAL ABUSE is the use of words, sounds, gestures, actions, behaviors or other communication by a person responsible for providing services to a vulnerable adult that is likely to cause a reasonable person to experience humiliation, intimidation, fear, shame or degradation.

SEXUAL EXPLOITATION is a caretaker causing, allowing, or encouraging a vulnerable adult to engage in prostitution or lewd, obscene, or pornographic photographing, filming or depiction of the vulnerable adult.