Abuse of vulnerable adults
Residents in hospital care or nursing homes are some of the most vulnerable in society. Those in residential care range from young adults with mild learning disabilities who need support to live semi-independently all the way to those with the most severe learning and physical disabilities who require 24 hour care. Residents in nursing homes are often elderly with significant health needs or cognitive impairments. The nature of a resident’s age and/or disability often means that they are extremely vulnerable to physical/psychological abuse or neglect.
They are often unable to speak up for themselves or unable to realise (because of their cognitive impairments or learning disabilities) when they are victims of abuse. They may feel unable to report incidents of abuse for fear of reprisals from their abuser. They may be living in a placement where the abuse of residents is seen as normal day-to-day activity and residents assume that it is just something that they have to deal with on their own.