Who is a vulnerable adult?
A vulnerable adult is defined in 'No Secrets' (the Governments guidance on adult abuse) as a person aged 18 or over, who is in receipt of or may be in need of community care services, by reason of 'mental or other disability, age or illness, and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation'.
Abuse is defined in 'No Secrets' (government guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse) as the 'violation of an individuals human or civil rights by any other person or persons'. Examples of this include:
- physical abuse - anything that causes pain or injury
- sexual abuse
- psychological abuse - including threats of harm or abandonment, humiliation, intimidation, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks, withholding affection
Anyone from relatives and family members to professional staff, paid care workers, volunteers, other service users, neighbours, friends and strangers.
An advocate is someone who can speak out for you and help you to speak out for yourself.