A Vulnerable Adult and Abuse: a reminder to what it is

 A vulnerable adult

If we define vulnerable adult as somebody in pain, then most of our patients are vulnerable.  I have looked at government sites and  department of health sites regarding vulnerable adult to see what into the category of vulnerable adult.   

A vulnerable adult is someone aged 18 or over:

·         Who is, or may be, in need of community services due to age, illness or a mental or physical disability

·         Who is, or may be, unable to take care of himself/herself, or unable to protect himself/herself against significant harm or exploitation

(Definition from the Department of Health 2002)

Who is a vulnerable adult?

Abuse can affect any vulnerable adult, but particularly someone who is, or may be, unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation, for example:

·         Older people

·         People with mental health problems

·         Disabled people

·         People with learning difficulties

·         People with acquired brain damage

·         People who misuse substances

What is abuse?

Abuse is a violation of an individual's human and civil rights. It may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It can be physical, verbal or psychological, it may be an act or omission to act, or it may occur when a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which he or she has not consented, or cannot consent. Abuse can occur in any relationship

Types of abuse?

·         Physical: including hitting, shaking, biting, grabbing, withholding food or drink, force-feeding, wrongly administering medicine, unnecessary restraint, failing to provide physical care and aids to living

·         Sexual: including sexual assault, rape, inappropriate touching/molesting, pressuring someone into sexual acts they don't understand or feel powerless to refuse

·         Emotional or psychological: including verbal abuse, shouting, swearing, threatening abandonment or harm, isolating, taking away privacy or other rights, bullying/intimidation, blaming, controlling or humiliation

·         Financial or material: including witholding money or possessions, theft of money or property, fraud, intentionally mismanaging finances, borrowing money and not repaying

·         Neglect: including withholding food, drink, heating and clothing, failing to provide access to health, social and educational services, ignoring physical care needs, exposing a person to unacceptable risk, or failing to ensure adequate supervision

·         Discriminatory abuse: including slurs, harassment and maltreatment due to a person's race, gender, disability, age, faith, culture or sexual orientation

·         Institutional abuse: including the use of systems and routines which neglect a person receiving care. This can happen in any setting where formal care is provided.