RCGP Safeguarding toolkit

Adults at greater risk of abuse and neglect

Any adult can be a victim of abuse and neglect and many adults (including some adults with additional needs/care and support needs) are able to protect themselves from abuse or take appropriate action to prevent or stop abuse happening to them. However, some adults are unable, or less likely to be able, to protect themselves from abuse. This can include:

• people with care and support needs, such as older people or people with disabilities, are more likely to be abused or neglected -they may be seen as an easy target and may be less likely to identify abuse themselves or to report it
• people with drug or alcohol addiction
• people with mental health difficulties
• people with brain injuries
• people with dementia
• people from marginalised groups such as sex workers and refugees
• people with communication difficulties can be particularly at risk because they may not be able to alert others.

Sometimes adults may not even be aware that they are being abused, and this is especially likely if they have a cognitive impairment.

References

• Social Care Institute for Excellence. What is safeguarding?
• Refugee Action. Safeguarding. 2016.
• Amnesty International. Sex Workers’ Rights. 2017.
• The Law Society. Financial Abuse. 2023.