What is abuse?
Abuse takes many forms. It includes:
- any form of harm such as:
- hitting, injuring or restraining
- threatening, intimidating or humiliating
- sexual attention or activity that is not wanted
- keeping someone on their own
- any form of neglect such as:
- not giving the correct medicine
- not providing food or clothing
- not arranging the right care
- financial abuse such as:
- stealing or misusing money or property
- pressure about wills or inheritance
- discrimination such as treating someone less favourably because of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, disability or sexual orientation
- domestic violence and abuse we have further information about domestic violence and abuse
Abuse can happen anywhere - at home, in a care home, hospital or day centre or in public.
Who is at risk?
People may be at risk of abuse if they:
- depend on other people for their care
- are older, frail and unable to protect themselves
- have mental health problems
- have a physical or learning disability
- have serious sight or hearing impairment
- have dementia
- misuse alcohol or drugs
- have a long-term illness