General Signs and Examples of Abuse

• Frequent arguments between the carer and the elderly person.
• Changes in personality or behaviour in the person being abused.

Sign and Examples of Physical Abuse

• Unexplained signs of injury like bruises, burns or scars, or more serious injuries such as broken bones which have no reasonable explanation.
• Individuals reportedly taking too much of their medicines or not taking their medicines regularly (too much of a prescription remaining).
• Signs of being restrained, such as bruises on the wrists.
• Staff in a care home refusing to allow you to see the elderly person alone.

Signs and Examples of Emotional Abuse

• Behaviour which threatens, belittles or controls a vulnerable person.
• Unusual behaviour in the abused person such as rocking, sucking, or mumbling to themselves or distress.

Signs and Examples of Neglectful Behaviour

• Unusual weight loss because of not eating or drinking sufficient; this may be because the person is not getting sufficient help to feed themselves.
• Untreated physical problems, such as bedsores.
• Dirty clothes or soiled bedding.
• Being left dirty or unbathed.
• Unsafe living conditions (lack of heat or running water; faulty electrical wiring, other fire hazards such as hoarding).

Sign and Examples of Financial Exploitation or Abuse

• Significant or unexplained withdrawals from the person’s bank account.
• Items of jewellery or cash missing.
• Unexpected or suspicious changes in wills, or power of attorney.
• Addition of names to the person’s signature card.
• Unexpected or unneeded subscriptions for goods or services.

Acknowledgement of Abuse

It can be particularly difficult for the abused person to acknowledge what is happening, or talk to someone, because:

• the person abusing them may be someone they love such as a family member.
• they feel guilty or that they have behaved ill-advisedly.
• the person abusing them is someone they depend on for daily care or financial support.
• they are frightened of the consequences if they tell someone

Concerned?

If you are suspicious or have any concerns for a child you can help by contacting the right people to share your concerns.

Please use our Reporting A Concern page to contact the appropriate service. If you are worried that there is immediate danger of harm then you should contact the police.