What is abuse?
There are many different types of abuse and they all result in behaviour towards a person that deliberately or unintentionally causes harm. It is a violation of an individual's human and civil rights and in the worst cases can result in death.
Who might the abuser be? It could be anyone!
A partner, child or friend
A paid or volunteer carer
A health, social care or other worker
A person who claims to be an employer of one of the abused.
Physical abuse:
Types: This could be giving the person medication that can harm them or disciplining the person in an inappropriate way or restraining the person. It can be hitting slapping pushing, kicking or burning the person that is being abused. Depriving the abused of food, clothing, warmth and health care needs, this is known as neglect.
Indicators:
Going to the hospital a lot due to fractures, burns and broken bones. The person may not want to be touched because they don’t trust you and are scared. They may also have unexplained bruising and marks on their skin.
Case study on physical abuse:
Mark is 54 years old, 10 years ago had a stroke which left him partially paralysed. He has carers caming into his home three times a day, but his wife cares for him the rest of the time. Over time, his wife has became increasingly aggressive. One night, when he asked her to help him to the toilet, she pushed him and he fell, hitting his head. She then helped him up and slapped him across the face.
Sexual abuse:
Types:
This can be direct or indirect sexual activities where the vulnerable adult cannot or does not agree to it. It can also be a sexual activity which takes place when the vulnerable adult is unaware of the consequences or the risks involved
Non contact abuse e.g. voyeurism and pornography
Indicators:
The sign or sexual abuse could be not wanting to be touched or a dramatic change in their appearance using bad language. They could include genital itching, soreness, having a sexually transmitted disease or behaving in a sexually inappropriate way. Unexplained changes in the demeanour and behaviour of the vulnerable adult
Tendency to withdraw and spend time in isolation with an irregular and disturbed sleeping pattern.
Case study on Sexual abuse:
Stacey met her husband Steve in college, they used to spend hours in bed and their sex was great and it was pretty much all they wanted to do. But their life changed and spending all day in bed at 18 was a good idea, but they had to work and start thinking about family this was when their priorities changed.
Stacey had a feeling that her and her husband had more sex than other couples and it was never enough for Steve. They would get home late from work and there would be dinner to cook, the house would be a tip and all Steve could think about was when they’d have sex. If they didn't have sex after a couple of days the tension would be unbearable, he’s hardly looks and Stacey and she thought he hated her. More often or not Stacey would give in and let Steve have his way.
She's been with Steve ten years by now and she had loads of health problems and she would get really run down and ended up getting glandular fever and she had no energy for anything. But Steve didn't get it he thought that she was making up excuses and that she didn't want to have sex with him because she didn't love him any more This got worse and worse and she used to dread the moment that he could finish work and come through the door.
He raped her twice and then told her that he had done nothing wrong because he was her husband and he had the right to have sex with her
Financial abuse:
Types:This can include cheating the abused by using them for financial gain and stealing from the abused. The abuser could be putting pressure on the abused to pay their bills, property, inheritance or financial transactions. They can also be misusing or stealing the abused property, possessions or benefits.
Indicators:
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