Restraining Orders

Neglect includes when a caregiver:

• fails to provide care needed for your physical health, including:
  • food;
  • water;
  • clothing;
  • medicine;
  • shelter;
  • medical services/medical treatment plan;
  • basic hygiene;
  • reasonable supervision for your well-being; or
  • other care you may need;¹
• does not make a reasonable effort to protect you from neglect or financial exploitation by others;²
• leaves you alone when there is a reasonable likelihood that physical harm will occur (abandonment);³ or
• knowingly and unreasonably restricts your movement (confinement), which can include:
  • keeping you in a locked room;
  • separating you from your living space;
  • using restraining devices on you; or
  • giving you unnecessary medication or too much medication.⁴

When a caregiver neglects you in a way that causes serious physical harm or bodily injury, it is known as aggravated neglect.⁵

¹ Tenn. Code § 39-15-501(8)(A)(i)
² Tenn. Code § 39-15-501(8)(A)(ii)
³ Tenn. Code § 39-15-501(1), (8)(A)(iii)
⁴ Tenn. Code § 39-15-501(5), (8)(A)(iv)
⁵ Tenn. Code § 39-15-508