Restraining Orders

An at-risk adult is someone who is susceptible to mistreatment or self-neglect because:

• s/he is unable to take care of his/her own health, safety, or welfare; or
• s/he lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions concerning his/her body or affairs.¹

An elderly person is defined as someone who is age 60 or older.²

“Mistreatment” of an elderly person or an at-risk adult is defined as:

1. abuse, which is defined as:
   • causing physical pain or injury, which can be proven by substantial or multiple bruises, bleeding, malnutrition, dehydration, burns, bone fractures, poisoning, subdural hematoma (bleeding on the brain), soft tissue swelling, or suffocation;
   • unreasonable confinement or restraint;
   • unlawful sexual behavior, which is defined as committing, attempting to commit, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation to commit any of the following offenses:
     • sexual assault
     • unlawful sexual contact
     • sexual assault on a client by a psychotherapist
     • incest or aggravated incest
     • human trafficking for sexual servitude
     • indecent exposure
     • invasion of privacy for sexual gratification
     • unlawful sexual conduct by a peace officer
2. caretaker neglect;
3. exploitation; or
4. a harmful act.³

For more detailed definitions of caretaker neglect and exploitation as they apply to an at-risk adult, please see section 26-3.1-101 on our Selected Colorado Statutes page.

Some examples of mistreatment are repeated acts of:

• verbal threats, assaults or harassment;
• giving you medicine improperly, or threatening to give you medicine improperly;
• physically or chemically (through medication or drugs) restraining you inappropriately; or
• using his or her authority (as a guardian or conservator) to unreasonably confine you or restrict your liberty (in other words, treating you like a prisoner); or
• threatening violence or using actual violence against the animal of an elderly person or at-risk adult, or taking, hiding or getting rid of his/her animal with the intention to coerce, control, punish, intimidate, or get revenge upon the elderly person or at-risk adult.²

¹ Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26-3.1-101(1.5)
² Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-14-101(1)
³ Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26-3.1-101(1), (7)