In Minnesota, Adult Protective Services are an effort to identify and prevent maltreatment of Minnesota's most vulnerable adults. Identifying maltreatment in vulnerable adults can be challenging because the adult may not be able to communicate what happened or may be considered an unreliable witness. For example, an elderly man with dementia has a bruise on his arm. In addition to educating the public about maltreatment of vulnerable adults, Adult Protective Services consults with local agencies, including counties and law enforcement agencies.
State agencies investigate complaints in regulated industries such as nursing facilities.
Law enforcement units coordinate with state and local units to provide protection on maltreatment reports made and investigated. In addition, Adult Protective Services keeps an aggregate statewide database on maltreatment reports made and investigated. Adult Protection Services are available to consult and train any group interested in learning more about identifying and preventing abuse of vulnerable adults. Providers of adult services must be offered training on their responsibilities under the statute. Public agencies with responsibilities under the statute are required to receive training on their responsibilities, specifically in the areas of investigation of vulnerable adult maltreatment and operation of a Common Entry Point .