Abuse of an Older or Impaired Adult
31 Del. C. § 3910 — anyone with reasonable cause reports, and exploiting $500 or more is a felony
A person, including a health care professional, with reasonable cause to believe an impaired or incapacitated adult needs protective services reports it to the Department. Privilege does not excuse the duty.
An impaired adult is someone 18 or older whose physical or mental disability substantially impairs their ability to care for themselves.
| Exploiting the adult's resources | Level |
|---|---|
| Exploiting the adult's resourcesLess than $500 | LevelClass A misdemeanor |
| Exploiting the adult's resources$500 or more but less than $5,000 | LevelClass G felony |
| Exploiting the adult's resources$5,000 or more but less than $10,000 | LevelClass E felony |
| Exploiting the adult's resources$10,000 or more but less than $50,000 | LevelClass D felony |
| Exploiting the adult's resources$50,000 or more, or a later conviction | LevelClass C felony |
Abuse or neglect is a class A misdemeanor, a class D felony when it causes bodily harm or permanent injury, and a class A felony when it causes death.
Bank employees have their own duty to flag suspected exploitation. A particular situation is a question for a licensed Delaware attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- 31 Del. C. § 3910 — Duty to report
- 31 Del. C. § 3913 — Violations
- 31 Del. C. § 3902 — Definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Delaware attorney.