The law that protects these individuals is known as the Vulnerable Adults Act. This law requires that known or suspected incidents of maltreatment of vulnerable adults be reported and investigated and that protective services be offered to victims of maltreatment. Minnesota's law concerning the protection of vulnerable adults went into effect in 1981, and was amended effective October 1995. B626.557 and the related criminal provisions are found in Minn. Stat. However, vulnerable adults of either gender may be victims of maltreatment.
Care includes providing for food, shelter, clothing, health care or supervision.
A vulnerable adult is a victim of maltreatment when he or she is subjected to abuse, neglect or financial exploitation. It is not maltreatment for a caregiver to engage in a consensual sexual relationship with a vulnerable adult under certain circumstances. The relationship existed before the person became a caregiver. Neglect Neglect is the failure or omission by a caregiver to supply a vulnerable adult with care or services, including but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, health care or supervision which is reasonable and necessary to obtain or maintain a vulnerable adult's physical or mental health or safety. The Vulnerable Adults Law provides that certain actions or conduct will not be viewed as maltreatment.