Elder Abuse and Elder Financial Exploitation Statutes

The federal government, states, commonwealths, territories and the District of Columbia all have laws designed to protect older adults from elder abuse and guide the practice of adult protective services agencies, law enforcement agencies, and others. These laws vary considerably from state to state.
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Citation Statute
Civil Financial Exploitation
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 108A-101  (2022)

CHAPTER 108A.  SOCIAL SERVICES 
ARTICLE 6.  PROTECTION OF THE ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR EXPLOITED DISABLED ADULT ACT
§ 108A-101.  Definitions.

(j) The word “exploitation” means the illegal or improper use of a disabled adult or his resources for another's profit or advantage.


(d) The words “disabled adult” shall mean any person 18 years of age or over or any lawfully emancipated minor who is present in the State of North Carolina and who is physically or mentally incapacitated due to an intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or autism; organic brain damage caused by advanced age or other physical degeneration in connection therewith; or due to conditions incurred at any age which are the result of accident, organic brain damage, mental or physical illness, or continued consumption or absorption of substances.
Criminal Financial Exploitation
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-112.2(a)-(c) (2022)

Chapter 14. Criminal Law
Subchapter V. Offenses Against Property
Article 19. False Pretenses and Cheats
§ 14-112.2. Exploitation of an older adult or disabled adult

(b) It is unlawful for a person: (i) who stands in a position of trust and confidence with an older adult or disabled adult, or (ii) who has a business relationship with an older adult or disabled adult to knowingly, by deception or intimidation, obtain or use, or endeavor to obtain or use, an older adult's or disabled adult's funds, assets, or property with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the older adult or disabled adult of the use, benefit, or possession of the funds, assets, or property, or to benefit someone other than the older adult or disabled adult.

(c) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly, by deception or intimidation, obtain or use, endeavor to obtain or use, or conspire with another to obtain or use an older adult's or disabled adult's funds, assets, or property with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the older adult or disabled adult of the use, benefit, or possession of the funds, assets, or property, or benefit someone other than the older adult or disabled adult. This subsection shall not apply to a person acting within the scope of that person's lawful authority as the agent for the older adult or disabled adult.

(a) The following definitions apply in this section:
(1) Disabled adult.--A person 18 years of age or older or a lawfully emancipated minor who is present in the State of North Carolina and who is physically or mentally incapacitated as defined in G.S. 108A-101(d).
(2) Older adult.--A person 65 years of age or older.
Civil Elder Abuse
N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 108A-99 through 108A-117 (2017)

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 108A-101  (2017)

CHAPTER 108A.  SOCIAL SERVICES  ARTICLE 6.  PROTECTION OF THE ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR EXPLOITED DISABLED ADULT ACT

   (a) The word "abuse" means the willful infliction of physical pain, injury or mental anguish, unreasonable confinement, or the willful deprivation by a caretaker of services which are necessary to maintain mental and physical health.

(j) The word "exploitation" means the illegal or improper use of a disabled adult or his resources for another's profit or advantage.

(m) The word "neglect" refers to a disabled adult who is either living alone and not able to provide for himself or herself the services which are necessary to maintain the person's mental or physical health or is not receiving services from the person's caretaker. A person is not receiving services from his caretaker if, among other things and not by way of limitation, the person is a resident of one of the State-owned psychiatric hospitals listed in G.S. 122C-181(a)(1), the State-owned Developmental Centers listed in G.S. 122C-181(a)(2), or the State-owned Neuro-Medical Treatment Centers listed in G.S. 122C-181(a)(3), the person is, in the opinion of the professional staff of that State-owned facility, mentally incompetent to give consent to medical treatment, the person has no legal guardian appointed pursuant to Chapter 35A, or guardian as defined in G.S. 122C-3(15), and the person needs medical treatment.
Civil Elder Abuse
N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 108A-99 through 108A-117 (2017)

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 108A-113  (2017)

CHAPTER 108A.  SOCIAL SERVICES  ARTICLE 6A.  PROTECTION OF DISABLED AND OLDER ADULTS FROM FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION

  (3) Financial exploitation. -- The illegal or improper use of a disabled adult's or older adult's financial resources for another's profit or pecuniary advantage.
Criminal Elder Abuse
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-32.3.

(a)        Abuse. - A person is guilty of abuse if that person is a caretaker of a disabled or elder adult who is residing in a domestic setting and, with malice aforethought, knowingly and willfully: (i) assaults, (ii) fails to provide medical or hygienic care, or (iii) confines or restrains the disabled or elder adult in a place or under a condition that is cruel or unsafe, and as a result of the act or failure to act the disabled or elder adult suffers mental or physical injury.

If the disabled or elder adult suffers serious injury from the abuse, the caretaker is guilty of a Class F felony. If the disabled or elder adult suffers injury from the abuse, the caretaker is guilty of a Class H felony.

A person is not guilty of an offense under this subsection if the act or failure to act is in accordance with G.S. 90-321 or G.S. 90-322.

(b)        Neglect. - A person is guilty of neglect if that person is a caretaker of a disabled or elder adult who is residing in a domestic setting and, wantonly, recklessly, or with gross carelessness: (i) fails to provide medical or hygienic care, or (ii) confines or restrains the disabled or elder adult in a place or under a condition that is unsafe, and as a result of the act or failure to act the disabled or elder adult suffers mental or physical injury.

If the disabled or elder adult suffers serious injury from the neglect, the caretaker is guilty of a Class G felony. If the disabled or elder adult suffers injury from the neglect, the caretaker is guilty of a Class I felony.

A person is not guilty of an offense under this subsection if the act or failure to act is in accordance with G.S. 90-321 or G.S. 90-322.

(c)        Repealed by Session Laws 2005-272, s. 1, effective December 1, 2005, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

(d)       Definitions. - The following definitions apply in this section:

(1)        Caretaker. - A person who has the responsibility for the care of a disabled or elder adult as a result of family relationship or who has assumed the responsibility for the care of a disabled or elder adult voluntarily or by contract.

(2)        Disabled adult. - A person 18 years of age or older or a lawfully emancipated minor who is present in the State of North Carolina and who is physically or mentally incapacitated as defined in G.S. 108A-101(d).

(3)        Domestic setting. - Residence in any residential setting except for a health care facility or residential care facility as these terms are defined in G.S. 14-32.2.

(4)        Elder adult. - A person 60 years of age or older who is not able to provide for the social, medical, psychiatric, psychological, financial, or legal services necessary to safeguard the person's rights and resources and to maintain the person's physical and mental well-being. (1995, c. 246, s. 1; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 742, s. 9; 2005-272, s. 1.)

https://www4.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes...