Dependent adults are adults who are not senior citizens that need assistance in their day-to-day life. Activities that require assistance include normal activities including but not limited to showering or getting out of bed. Dependent adults have special rights and protections from abuse. After the age of 64, a person who might otherwise be considered a dependent adult is afforded other rights and protections as a senior citizen or elder. Laws regulating dependent adult abuse are very similar or identical to those governing elder abuse.[1]
The definition is similar from state to state. California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 15610.23 defines a dependent adult as:[2]
The state of California gives two primary protections to dependent adults which include:[3]