The following is the California definition of elder and dependent adult abuse (pursuant to the California Welfare and Institutions Code elder and dependent adult abuse statutes):

California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 15610.07  

(a) “Abuse of an elder or a dependent adult” means any of the following:

(1) Physical abuse, neglect, abandonment, isolation, abduction, or other treatment with resulting physical harm or pain or mental suffering.

(2) The deprivation by a care custodian of goods or services that are necessary to avoid physical harm or mental suffering.

(3) Financial abuse, as defined in Section 15610.30.

Note that you have to look elsewhere for additional definitions. Such as, for example, “elder” (W&I Code Section 15610.27), “dependent adult” (W&I Code Section 15610.23), and “mental suffering” (W&I Code Section 15610.53).

I mention the definition of “mental suffering” because you will note that Section 15610.07 does not list undue influence as an act of abuse. However, Section 15610.07 does include mental suffering, and Section 15610.53 defines “mental suffering” as follows:

“Mental suffering” means fear, agitation, confusion, severe depression, or other forms of serious emotional distress that is brought about by forms of intimidating behavior, threats, harassment, or by deceptive acts performed or false or misleading statements made with malicious intent to agitate, confuse, frighten, or cause severe depression or serious emotional distress of the elder or dependent adult.

And you might also find useful the definition of “dependent adult” as defined at Section 15610.23 – I am specifically identifying the definition of “dependent adult” because the California abuse statutes apply to both “elders” and “dependent adults” whereas most discussions seem to drop or omit the “dependent adult” aspect:

(a) “Dependent adult” means any person between the ages of 18 and 64 years who resides in this state and who has physical or mental limitations that restrict his or her ability to carry out normal activities or to protect his or her rights, including, but not limited to, persons who have physical or developmental disabilities, or whose physical or mental abilities have diminished because of age.

(b) “Dependent adult” includes any person between the ages of 18 and 64 years who is admitted as an inpatient to a 24-hour health facility, as defined in Sections 1250, 1250.2, and 1250.3 of the Health and Safety Code.

The definition of the term “elder” is defined by Welfare and Institutions Code Section 15610.27 as follows: “Elder” means any person residing in this state, 65 years of age or older.

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