Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult — including undue influence over finances, theft, or misuse of a power of attorney — should be reported to MAARC at 1-844-880-1574, the same statewide line used for other forms of suspected abuse or neglect. If a specific licensed facility is involved and the concern also touches on regulatory compliance, MDH's Office of Health Facility Complaints (651-201-4200) can be contacted separately.
What to do next
Financial exploitation can be harder to recognize than physical abuse because it often unfolds gradually — a new 'friend' who becomes a power of attorney, unexplained withdrawals, or a caregiver pressuring a senior to change a will — and families sometimes hesitate to report it out of uncertainty about whether it 'counts.' MAARC's intake process is designed to sort that out on the state's end rather than requiring the reporter to already know it meets a legal definition; if there's a reasonable concern, it's appropriate to call. For situations involving a family member as the suspected exploiter, or disputes over a power of attorney or guardianship, an elder-law attorney in the Twin Cities can also help alongside a MAARC report, since some remedies require civil legal action rather than a state investigation alone.
Related questions
- How do I report abuse or neglect at a Twin Cities facility?
- Is MAARC the same everywhere in Minnesota, or does each Twin Cities county have its own abuse hotline?
- Am I a mandated reporter if I suspect a neighbor or relative in senior care is being neglected?
- What happens after I call MAARC to report suspected abuse?