Restraining Orders

“Mistreatment” of an elderly person or an at-risk adult means:

1. abuse, which is defined as:
   
   • causing physical pain or injury, which can be shown by large (substantial) or multiple bruises, bleeding, malnutrition, dehydration, burns, bone fractures, poisoning, bleeding on the brain (subdural hematoma), soft tissue swelling, or suffocation;
   • unreasonable confinement or restraint;
   • unlawful sexual behavior, as defined in section 16-22-102(9) of the law;
2. caretaker neglect, as defined in section 26-3.1-101(2.3) of the law;
3. exploitation, as defined in section 26-3.1-101(4) of the law; or
4. a harmful act, as defined in section 26-3.1-101(5.5) of the law.¹

Some examples of mistreatment are repeated acts of:

• verbal threats, assaults or harassment;
• giving you or threatening to give you medicine improperly;
• restraining you inappropriately, either physically or through medication or drugs (chemically);
• using their 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 your animal, or taking, hiding or getting rid of your animal with the intention to coerce, control, punish, intimidate, or get revenge on you.²

¹ Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26-3.1-101(1), (7); see Colo. Rev. Stat. § 16-22-102(9)
² Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-14-101(1)