The General Assembly recognizes that many adult citizens of this State are subject to psychological or physical injury or exploitation because of physical or mental disability, impairment, illness or condition or other causes which render them incapable of providing for their basic daily living needs. The General Assembly, therefore, intends through this chapter to establish a system of services for impaired adults designed to protect their health, safety and welfare. The intent is to authorize only the least possible restrictions on the exercise of personal and civil rights and such restrictions may be permitted only when consistent with proven need for services.

63 Del. Laws, c. 384, § ?1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § ?367;

Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 31 Sec. 3901

  • Exploitation: means an act of forcing, compelling, or exerting undue influence over a vulnerable adult causing the vulnerable adult to act in a way that is inconsistent with relevant past behavior, or causing the vulnerable adult to perform services for the benefit of another. See Delaware Code Title 31 Sec. 3902
  • Physical or mental disability: shall include any physical or mental disability and shall include, but not be limited to, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain damage, physical degeneration, deterioration, senility, disease, habitual drunkenness or addiction to drugs, and mental or physical impairment. See Delaware Code Title 31 Sec. 3902
  • State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302