Who is an adult at risk?

Adult abuse can happen to anyone who is over 18.

Safeguarding will apply to an adult who:

Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and;
Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
As a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or, the experience of abuse or neglect.

These adults for example may:

Be frail due to age, ill health, physical disability or cognitive impairment, or a combination of these
Have a learning disability
Have a physical disability and/or a sensory impairment
Have mental health needs including dementia or a personality disorder
Have a long-term illness/condition
Be users of substances or alcohol
Be unable to demonstrate the capacity to make a decision and is in need of care and support.

Abuse may be a one-off incident or occur multiple times. It may affect one person or more. Repeated instances of poor care maybe an indication of more serious problems and of what we now describe as organisational abuse.

Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it. It may be caused by anyone who has power over the person. The person responsible for the abuse is very often well known to the person being abused and could be:

A spouse or partner
Son or daughter
A relative
A friend
A paid or unpaid carer
A neighbour
A health or social care professional
Another resident or service user

Abuse can be caused by a person deliberately intending to harm or neglect, failing to take the right action, or through their ignorance. It can involve one or a number of people.

Adult abuse is when something is said or done to an adult at risk that makes them feel upset, hurt or frightened. Abuse is not always intentional but it causes harm so something should be done to stop it from happening again.