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Alaska Statutes.

Title 47. Welfare, Social Services and Institutions

Chapter 24. Protection of Vulnerable Adults

Section 900. Definitions.

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AS 47.24.900. Definitions.

In this chapter,

(1) "abandonment" means desertion of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver;

(2) "abuse" means

(A) the wilful, intentional, or reckless nonaccidental, and nontherapeutic infliction of physical pain, injury, or mental distress; or

(B) sexual assault under AS 11.41.410 or 11.41.420;

(3) "caregiver" means

(A) a person who is providing care to a vulnerable adult as a result of a family relationship, or who has assumed responsibility for the care of a vulnerable adult voluntarily, by contract, or by court order; or

(B) an employee of an out-of-home care facility who provides care to one or more vulnerable adults;

(4) "decision making capacity" means the ability to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of a decision and the ability to reach and communicate an informed decision;

(5) "department" means the Department of Health and Social Services;

(6) "designee" means another state agency or a community-based program, individual, or provider of supportive services that has been licensed, or authorized by agreement with the department, to provide one or more services to vulnerable adults;

(7) "exploitation" means unjust or improper use of another person or another person's resources for one's own profit or advantage;

(8) "incapacitated person" means a person whose ability to receive and evaluate information or to communicate decisions is impaired to the extent that the person lacks the ability to provide or arrange for the essential requirements for the person's physical health or safety without court-ordered assistance;

(9) "neglect" means the intentional failure by a caregiver to provide essential care or services necessary to maintain the physical and mental health of the vulnerable adult;

(10) "police officer" has the meaning given in AS 18.65.290 ;

(11) "protective services" means services that are intended to prevent or alleviate harm resulting from abandonment, exploitation, abuse, neglect, or self-neglect and that are provided to a vulnerable adult in need of protection; "protective services" includes protective placement;

(12) "public home care provider" has the meaning given in AS 47.05.017(c);

(13) "self-neglect" means an act or omission by a vulnerable adult that results, or could result in the deprivation of essential services necessary to maintain minimal mental, emotional, or physical health and safety;

(14) "supportive services" means the range of services delivered by public and private organizations and individuals that assist the elderly and vulnerable adults with their social, health, educational, recreational, transportation, housing, nutritional, financial, legal, or other needs;

(15) "unable to consent" means refusal to, or inability to, accept services because

(A) the person is an incapacitated person or apparently is an incapacitated person;

(B) of coercion by or fear of reprisal from the perpetrator of abandonment, exploitation, abuse, or neglect;

(C) of dependency on the perpetrator of abandonment, exploitation, abuse, or neglect for services, care, or support; or

(D) of an inability to perceive that refusal to consent results in an imminent and substantial danger of death or irreparable harm to self or others;

(16) "vulnerable adult" means a person 18 years of age or older who, because of physical or mental impairment, is unable to meet the person's own needs or to seek help without assistance.