Leaflet Ref.12:

• Who is an adult at risk?
• What is abuse?
• What can you do?

Who is an adult at risk?

Someone who may be:

• in need of help because of a disability or illness
• unable to take care of themselves, or
• unable to stop someone else from harming or exploiting them

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What is abuse?

Abuse is something that is done to another person, without their full understanding or consent, that harms them in some way.

Anyone can be an abuser - Abuse can happen anywhere, for example in the vulnerable adult's own home, in a residential or nursing home, in a hospital, prison or day centre.

Abuse can include one or more of the following:

1. Neglect is failure to provide suitable care or attention to the point where someone's health is affected.
2. Physical Abuse includes hitting, pinching, deliberately giving too much medication or physically restraining someone in an inappropriate way.
3. Financial Abuse includes taking another person's money or possessions; pressure in connection with wills, property or financial transactions.
4. Sexual Abuse includes any sexual act to which the vulnerable adult has not consented and may not understand.
5. Psychological Abuse can happen where someone is isolated, verbally abused or threatened.
6. Discriminating Abuse includes any type of abuse aimed at a vulnerable adult because of e.g. their colour, religion, appearance or sexuality.
7. Institutional Abuse - abuse occurring in a social or health care establishment that may range from poor practice to ill treatment and gross misconduct.

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What can you do?

If you see, hear or suspect a vulnerable adult is being abused in any way, you must tell someone about it. Contact your local Social Services District office via Care Direct on 0845 155 1007

or

write to:

• Social Services Adult Protection Co-ordinator
  County Hall
  Topsham Road
  Exeter
  EX2 4QR
• e-mail: please use comments/enquiries form

or

• Tel. Care Direct on Freephone 0845 155 1007
  
• Remember - in an emergency dial 999