The Types, Possible Reasons For, & Effects of Abuse

Authors Avatar by ashw123 (student)

Assignment 1: The types, possible reasons for, the effects of abuse


Contents

Introduction

Abuse is the violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons’. Abuse can be a single act, repeated acts, psychological, physical, verbal, inability to consent, no consent in transactions, and can occur in relationships. The outcome of abuse can lead to significant harm; physical or psychological, exploitation and/or denial of rights.

Types of Abuse

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is non-accidental harm to the body caused by the use of force or violence that results in pain, injury or a change in the person’s physical estate. It includes assault, battery, and inappropriate restraint. Physical abuse may be carried out by care workers who lose their temper with a service user because they are being difficult or in retaliation. Examples of physical abuse include:

  • Punching – bruising to parts of the body.
  • Hitting – bruising, outlines of objects on skin.
  • Restraining – signs of pinching.
  • Slapping – hand prints on parts of the body.
  • Shaking – signs of hand grip marks to upper arms.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is any kind of sexual activities or relationships directed towards a vulnerable adult without the person’s full knowledge and which they haven’t consented to and cannot consent to, or they can’t understand, or they are not able to consent to. Sexual abuse includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, and rape. Sexual abuse can happen to mentally capable adults by their spouse, partner, a family member or trusted people in their lives. It can also happen to mentally unable adults. Examples of sexual abuse include:

  • Enforced sexual contact – a service user is forced to take part in sexual activities that they do not want to take part in.
  • Sexual assault – any sexual behaviour that makes a person feel uncomfortable, frightened or threatened. It is sexual activity to which a person does not consent to.

Neglect

Neglect is the failure to supply essential care, aid, guidance or attention that causes, or is reasonably expected to cause the person physical, mental or emotional harm or considerable damage to or loss of possessions. Recurring instances of poor care inside a care setting can be a sign of serious fundamental problems. For vulnerable adults, neglect may be self-imposed because of mental health problems. Examples of neglect include:

  • Failure to provide sufficient food, drink, heating, clothing – could result into malnutrition and hyperthermia
  • Failure to ensure access to health and social care services – not giving people access to care services.
  • Failure to ensure adequate hygiene and skin care – results in poor hygiene
  • Failure to administer medication – carers may not give medication to service users.

Financial/Material Abuse

Financial or material abuse involves the use of a vulnerable person’s belongings, assets, income without their knowledgeable permission or making financial transactions that they do not understand to be of advantage to another person. Vulnerable adults are most at risk of financial abuse because they may be unaware of people taking their personal belongings and money. They may also be unaware of the consequences. Examples of financial/material abuse include:

Join now!
  • Using pressure to obtain rights to a property – a carer may gain ownership of a service user’s asset.
  • Inappropriate use of financial ability or power of attorney – a carer may be given money by a service user to buy a gift for a relative, but the carer uses the money to buy something else for themselves.
  • Taking possessions – involves stealing service users belongings.
  • Stealing money as cash or from a bank – a carer may see some money on a service users table and just take it.

Psychological/Emotional Abuse

Psychological abuse is behaviour which ...

This is a preview of the whole essay