What is abuse?
Abuse is any deliberate or unintentional action, or lack of action, carried out by a person, often in a trusted relationship, which causes distress and/or harm to a person who may be vulnerable, or causes loss or damage to property or assets.
People can experience abuse from a person they know and trust, such as a family member, friend, carer, or neighbour. It can occur at home, in places visited regularly, or where services or care are accessed. However, abuse can often remain hidden and continue without any suspicions being aroused.
What does abuse look like?
The behaviours and signs of abuse can include, but are not limited to:
- physical abuse: being hit or injured on purpose, restraining someone inappropriately.
- emotional abuse: intimidation, threats, humiliation, extortion, racial, verbal or psychological abuse.
- sexual abuse: involvement in a sexual activity which is unwanted or not understood, unwanted sexual attention.
- neglect: (not including self-neglect) not providing food, clothing, attention or care. Withholding of aids or equipment (continence, walking, hearing, glasses), putting someone at risk of infection, failure to provide access to appropriate health or social care.
- financial abuse or exploitation: the theft or misuse of money, property or personal possessions and includes any pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance.
- A denial, without reasonable excuse, of the basic rights or a person who may be vulnerable to abuse.
- The abuse or exploitation of a position of trust or authority existing between the vulnerable adult and another person.
- Any other act or omission of a kind declared by the regulations to be included in the ambit of this section (none currently).
Some questions to consider regarding abuse and mistreatment:
- Has anyone taken money without your permission?
- Has anyone not returned belongings or valuables they borrowed from you?
- Has anyone tried to force you to sign papers or to use your money against your will?
- Has anyone made you afraid, unsafe, or hurt you physically?
- Does anyone pressure you to do things that you don’t want to do?
- Does anyone’s behaviour upset, frighten or make you feel worthless?
Abuse or mistreatment of older people (Elder Abuse)
For more information about the types and signs of Elder Abuse, what to look for, who is at risk, when to seek help, visit Stop Elder Abuse and What is Elder Abuse.