Abuse In Health And Social Care Essay

Abuse comes in different ways and forms, where power is misused to control a person resulting in harm, neglect or risk of harm. Where an individual are imperiled to abuse, behavioural/psychological changes may manifest as;
• Anxiety, stress, confusion or general resignation from normal daily activities
• Social withdrawal and isolation
• Uncharacteristic manipulative, uncooperative and aggressive behaviour
• Fearfulness and signs of loss of self-esteem
• Loss of appetite or overeating at inappropriate times
• Inability of the vulnerable person to sleep or tendency to spend long periods in bed

Indicators of physical abuse are:
• Unexplained falls or minor injuries
• Unexplained bruising in well-protected areas of body, e.g. on the inside of
ulcers, bed sores
• Apparently unexplained weight loss
• Unkempt clothing and appearance including inappropriate or inadequate clothing, or nightclothes worn during the day
• Sensory deprivation - lack of access to glasses, hearing aids etc.
• Breach of privacy and dignity
• Not calling for assistance and lack of methods for calling for assistance

Indicators of financial abuse are:
• Inability to pay for household shopping or bills which cannot be explained
• Unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money
• Missing personal possessions
• Disparity between the person's living conditions and their financial resources
• Unusual and extraordinary interest and involvement in the vulnerable adult's assets by representatives

Indicators discriminatory abuse are:
• Resistance or refusal to access services that are required to meet need
• Being refused access to services or being excluded inappropriately
• Fearfulness and anxiety, loss of self-esteem, expressions of anger or frustration and a tendency to withdraw from