Forms of Abuse

There are many ways in which vulnerable adults may be abused but many types of abuse are not necessarily easy to recognise.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse includes hitting, pushing, pinching, shaking, misusing medication, scalding, restraint and hair pulling.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse includes rape, sexual assault, or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not or could not have consented or to which they were pressurised into consenting.

Psychological abuse 

Psychological abuse includes threats of harm or abandonment, being deprived of social or any other form of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, being prevented from receiving services or support. 

Financial abuse

Financial abuse includes theft, fraud or exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance, misuse of property, possessions or benefits.

Neglect 

Neglect includes ignoring medical or physical care needs and preventing access to health, social care or educational services or withholding the necessities of life such as food, drink and heating. 

Discriminatory abuse

Discriminatory abuse is based on race or sexuality or a person’s disability and other forms of harassment or slurs.

Institutional Abuse

Institutional abuse can sometimes happen in residential homes, nursing homes or hospitals when people are mistreated because of poor or inadequate care, neglect and poor practice that affects the whole of that service.

Additional factors

Any of these forms of abuse could either be deliberate or the result of ignorance or lack of training, knowledge and understanding. If a person is being abused in one way they are often being abused in other ways too.

Further information about abuse and abusers

Contact

Safeguarding adults team
Tel: 020 7525 1754
Fax: 020 7525 1711
safeguardingadultscoordinator@southwark.gov.uk  
Mabel Goldwin House
49 Grange Walk
London
SE1 3DY