Opinion ID: 1579582
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dependent Adult Abuse Statute.

Text: We begin our discussion of this appeal with a brief review of the pertinent statute. Iowa Code chapter 235B provides that the Department of Human Services (DHS) shall establish and operate a dependent adult abuse services program, emphasizing the reporting and evaluation of cases of abuse of a dependent adult. Id. § 235B.1. Even though DHS is responsible for receiving and evaluating dependent adult abuse reports and for establishing a central registry for such information, the department of inspections and appeals is solely responsible for the evaluation and disposition of dependent adult abuse cases within health care facilities.  Id. § 235B.3(1) (emphasis added). Although dependent adult abuse can take many forms, the present case concerns only one, financial exploitation. That form of abuse is defined in chapter 2358 as follows: 5. a. Dependent adult abuse means: (1) Any of the following as a result of the willful or negligent acts or omissions of a caretaker: .... ( c ) Exploitation of a dependent adult which means the act or process of taking unfair advantage of a dependent adult or the adult's physical or financial resources for one's own personal or pecuniary profit, without the informed consent of the dependent adult, including theft, by the use of undue influence, harassment, duress, deception, false representation, or false pretense. Id. § 235B.2(5)( a )(1)( c ) (final two emphases added). A caretaker is defined in chapter 235B as a related or nonrelated person who has the responsibility for the protection, care, or custody of a dependent adult as a result of assuming the responsibility voluntarily, by contract, through employment, or by order of the court. Id. § 235B.2(1). A dependent adult for purposes of this chapter is a person eighteen years of age or older who is unable to protect the person's own interests or unable to adequately perform or obtain services necessary to meet essential human needs, as a result of a physical or mental condition which requires assistance from another, or as defined by departmental rule. Id. § 235B.2(4). References to department in chapter 235B mean DHS. Id. § 235B.2(3). DHS has adopted a rule defining dependent adult, but this rule is identical to the statutory definition. See Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-176.1. With this statutory framework in mind, we now review the events leading to the present appeal.