(a) This part may be cited as the “Tennessee Adult Protection Act.”
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 71-6-101

  • Adult: means a person eighteen (18) years of age or older who because of mental or physical dysfunctioning or advanced age is unable to manage such person's own resources, carry out the activities of daily living, or protect such person from neglect, hazardous or abusive situations without assistance from others and who has no available, willing, and responsibly able person for assistance and who may be in need of protective services. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
  • Department: means the department of human services. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
  • Exploitation: means the improper use by a caretaker of funds that have been paid by a governmental agency to an adult or to the caretaker for the use or care of the adult. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Protective services: means services undertaken by the department with or on behalf of an adult in need of protective services who is being abused, neglected, or exploited. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b)

(1) The purpose of this part is to protect adults coming within this part from abuse, neglect or exploitation by requiring reporting of suspected cases by any person having cause to believe that such cases exist. It is intended that, as a result of such reports, the protective services of the state shall prevent further abuse, neglect or exploitation within the limitations set out in this part.
(2) It is recognized that adequate protection of adults will require the cooperation of many agencies and service providers in conjunction with the department of human services due to the often complex nature of the risks to this adult group, and that services to meet the needs of this group will not always be available in each community. However, it is desirable that the following services, as well as other services needed to meet the intent of this part, be available: medical care, mental health and developmental disabilities services, including in-home assessments and evaluations; in-home services including homemaker, home-health, chore, meals; emergency services including shelter; financial assistance; legal services; transportation; counseling; foster care; day care; respite care; and other services as needed to carry out the intent of this part.
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