Terms Used In Kansas Statutes 39-1404

  • Abuse: means any act or failure to act performed intentionally or recklessly that causes or is likely to cause harm to a resident, including:

    (1) Infliction of physical or mental injury;

    (2) any sexual act with a resident when the resident does not consent or when the other person knows or should know that the resident is incapable of resisting or declining consent to the sexual act due to mental deficiency or disease or due to fear of retribution or hardship;

    (3) unreasonable use of a physical restraint, isolation or medication that harms or is likely to harm a resident;

    (4) unreasonable use of a physical or chemical restraint, medication or isolation as punishment, for convenience, in conflict with a physician's orders or as a substitute for treatment, except where such conduct or physical restraint is in furtherance of the health and safety of the resident or another resident;

    (5) a threat or menacing conduct directed toward a resident that results or might reasonably be expected to result in fear or emotional or mental distress to a resident;

    (6) fiduciary abuse; or

    (7) omission or deprivation by a caretaker or another person of goods or services which are necessary to avoid physical or mental harm or illness. See Kansas Statutes 39-1401

  • Act: means Kan. See Kansas Statutes 39-1430
  • Exploitation: means misappropriation of resident property or intentionally taking unfair advantage of an adult's physical or financial resources for another individual's personal or financial advantage by the use of undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false representation or false pretense by a caretaker or another person. See Kansas Statutes 39-1401
  • In need of protective services: means that a resident is unable to perform or obtain services which are necessary to maintain physical or mental health, or both. See Kansas Statutes 39-1401
  • Law enforcement: means the public office which is vested by law with the duty to maintain public order, make arrests for crimes and investigate criminal acts, whether that duty extends to all crimes or is limited to specific crimes. See Kansas Statutes 39-1401
  • Neglect: means the failure or omission by one's self, caretaker or another person with a duty to provide goods or services which are reasonably necessary to ensure safety and well-being and to avoid physical or mental harm or illness. See Kansas Statutes 39-1401
  • Protective services: means services provided by the state or other governmental agency or any private organizations or individuals which are necessary to prevent abuse, neglect or exploitation. See Kansas Statutes 39-1401
  • Report: means a description or accounting of an incident or incidents of abuse, neglect or exploitation under this act and for the purposes of this act shall not include any written assessment or findings. See Kansas Statutes 39-1401
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Resident: means :

    (1) Any resident, as defined by Kan. See Kansas Statutes 39-1401

(a) The department of health and environment or the Kansas department for aging and disability services upon receiving a report that a resident is being, or has been, abused, neglected or exploited, or is in a condition which is the result of such abuse, neglect or exploitation or is in need of protective services shall:

(1) When a criminal act has occurred or has appeared to have occurred, immediately notify, in writing, the appropriate law enforcement agency;

(2) make a personal visit with the involved resident:

(A) Within 24 hours when the information from the reporter indicates imminent danger to the health or welfare of the involved resident;

(B) within three working days for all reports of suspected abuse, when the information from the reporter indicates no imminent danger; or

(C) within five working days for all reports of neglect or exploitation when the information from the reporter indicates no imminent danger.

(3) Complete, within 30 working days of receiving a report, a thorough investigation and evaluation to determine the situation relative to the condition of the involved resident and what action and services, if any, are required. The investigation shall include, but not be limited to, consultation with those individuals having knowledge of the facts of the particular case; and

(4) prepare, upon a completion of the evaluation of each case, a written assessment which shall include an analysis of whether there is or has been abuse, neglect or exploitation; recommended action; a determination of whether protective services are needed; and any follow up.

(b) The department which investigates the report shall inform the complainant, upon request of the complainant, that an investigation has been made and, if the allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation have been substantiated, that corrective measures will be taken if required upon completion of the investigation or sooner if such measures do not jeopardize the investigation.

(c) The Kansas department for aging and disability services may inform the chief administrative officer of a facility as defined by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 39-923, and amendments thereto, within 30 days of confirmed findings of resident abuse, neglect or exploitation.