Lesson 4: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation

Learning Objectives

After this lesson, the Home Care Aide will be able to:

1. Recall their mandatory reporting requirements;
2. Recognize common signs of abuse, abandonment, neglect, and financial exploitation; and
3. Demonstrate how and when to report suspected abuse, abandonment, neglect, and financial exploitation.

Key Terms

Mandatory reporter (RCW 74.34.020): a person required by law to report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. Includes any employee of the Department of Social and Health Services; law enforcement officer; social worker; professional school personnel; individual provider; an employee of a facility; an operator of a facility; an employee of a social service, welfare, mental health, adult day health, adult day care, home health, home care, or hospice agency; county coroner or medical examiner; Christian Science practitioner; or health care provider.
Neglect: when a person with responsibility for a vulnerable adult fails to provide necessary goods or services, fails to prevent physical or mental harm, or puts the vulnerable adult in danger.