Physical
Including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, restraint or inappropriate sanctions.
Sexual
Including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, could not consent or was pressured into consenting.
Psychological
Including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.
Financial or material
Including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.
Neglect or acts of omission
Including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health care, social care, education services or misuse of medication, adequate nutrition or heating.
When any of the above take place in a domestic setting they can also be indicators of Domestic Violence, which is defined as “the use, attempt, or threat of violence, whether physical, emotional, sexual, mental or economic, within an intimate and/or family relationship. It reflects and reinforces inequalities of power within relationships and within society”
Discriminatory
Including racist, sexist or homophobic abuse, that based on a person’s impairment, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment. Some of these can also be Hate Crimes or Hate Incidents. Hate crime is defined as any offence, which is committed against a person or property that is perceived by the victim or any other person to have taken place because of their race, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins; religion; sexual orientation or disability.
Institutional abuse
This 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.
Any of these forms of abuse can be either deliberate or be the result of ignorance, or lack of training, knowledge or understanding. Often if a person is being abused in one way they are also being abused in other ways.