What to do if you are being abused
by: Developed with materials provided by Wyoming Senior Citizens, Inc.
If You Are a Disabled Adult You are Protected by the Law
If you or someone you know is a disabled adult the law protects you when
•someone, on purpose, causes you pain or injury.
•someone locks you up for nogood reason
•someone threatens your health and well-being.
•you are left without money and can't get food, clothing, housing, health care or keep yourself clean
•someone lies and steals money from you and keeps it for themselves
Who Are Disabled Adults? A disabled adult is anyone who is 18 years or older and cannot care for themselves.This includes people who have reached old age.It also includes people who have physical or mental problems from using drugs or alcohol.
How Does the Law Help a Disabled Adult?
The Department of Family Services (DFS) or the police will help stop abuse of disabled adults.They help if the disabled adult is being left alone without money and cannot get food, clothing, housing or health care.
Report Abuse Right Away!
If you now or believe that there is abuse, you must report it.It's thelaw!
Do not worry about getting in trouble for reporting abuse.If turns out that the person was not being harmed you, you cannot get in trouble.This is true as long as you really believed that the abuse happened.
If you believe that a disabled adult is being harmed you should call your local DFS office.If this office is closed, call the police for help.
Must The DisabledAdult Agree To The Help That Is Needed?
Yes.But, if the disabled adult cannot, for any reason, agree to the help the Court can find someone to agree for the disabled adult.
What if the Disabled Adult is in Danger and Needs Help Right Away?
If the disabled adult needs help right away, the court can order that the person be taken to a safe place.If the person cannot consent to help, the court can have them taken to a safe place for up to 6 days.The court will then decide what needs to be done to protect the adult.
What Happens to the Person Who Abuses or Harms a Disabled Adult?
A guilty person can be fined up to $1,000 and sent to jail for a year. And if they do it again they can go to jail for 5 years.
Last Reviewed On: 04/08/04
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