Sec. 17b-450. (Formerly Sec. 17a-430). Definitions.
Sec. 17b-450. (Formerly Sec. 17a-430). Definitions. For purposes of sections
17b-450 to 17b-461, inclusive:
(1) The term "elderly person" means any resident of Connecticut who is sixty years
of age or older.
(2) An elderly person shall be deemed to be "in need of protective services" if such
person is unable to perform or obtain services which are necessary to maintain physical
and mental health.
(3) The term "services which are necessary to maintain physical and mental health"
includes, but is not limited to, the provision of medical care for physical and mental
health needs, the relocation of an elderly person to a facility or institution able to offer
such care, assistance in personal hygiene, food, clothing, adequately heated and ventilated shelter, protection from health and safety hazards, protection from maltreatment
the result of which includes, but is not limited to, malnutrition, deprivation of necessities
or physical punishment, and transportation necessary to secure any of the above stated
needs, except that this term shall not include taking such person into custody without
consent except as provided in sections 17b-450 to 17b-461, inclusive.
(4) The term "protective services" means services provided by the state or other
governmental or private organizations or individuals which are necessary to prevent
abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment. Abuse includes, but is not limited to, the
wilful infliction of physical pain, injury or mental anguish, or the wilful deprivation by
a caretaker of services which are necessary to maintain physical and mental health.
Neglect refers to an elderly person who is either living alone and not able to provide
for himself or herself the services which are necessary to maintain physical and mental
health or is not receiving such necessary services from the responsible caretaker. Exploitation refers to the act or process of taking advantage of an elderly person by another
person or caretaker whether for monetary, personal or other benefit, gain or profit. Abandonment refers to the desertion or wilful forsaking of an elderly person by a caretaker
or the foregoing of duties or the withdrawal or neglect of duties and obligations owed
an elderly person by a caretaker or other person.
(5) The term "caretaker" means a person who has the responsibility for the care of
an elderly person as a result of family relationship or who has assumed the responsibility
for the care of the elderly voluntarily, by contract or by order of a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(P.A. 77-613, S. 1, 15; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 95-160, S. 18, 69; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; P.A. 06-196, S. 240.)
History: Sec. 46a-14 transferred to Sec. 17a-430 in 1991; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and
department of social services for commissioner and department on aging, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17a-430 transferred
to Sec. 17b-450 in 1995; P.A. 95-160 deleted the definition of "state ombudsman" and "regional ombudsman", effective
July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; P.A. 06-196 made
technical changes in Subdiv. (4), effective June 7, 2006.