TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Barry Kolar on Oct 3, 2023

Legislation passed this last session has made it harder for staff at Adult Protective Services to investigate self-neglect in clients who may be suffering from malnutrition, not getting needed medical care or living in filthy conditions, WKRN reports. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, changed the definition of “abuse or neglect” to be instances where a “caretaker” inflicts pain or deprives an adult of necessary services. “I’ve seen people in horrible hoarding situations," said Davidson County Assistant District Attorney Mary Griffin. She adds that some are living for months without water, electricity or other basic services. As a result of the new legislation, instances of self-neglect no longer fall under the purview of APS and those cases now have to be investigated by police.