Skip to content. Abuse, exploitation or neglect of adults at risk can happen in different ways. If you suspect someone is at risk of abuse, exploitation or neglect contact the Adult Protection Gateway Service.

In Physical Abuse


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Physical abuse is intentional bodily injury. Some examples include slapping, pinching, choking, kicking, shoving, or inappropriately using drugs or physical restraints. Signs of physical abuse. Sexual abuse is nonconsensual sexual contact any unwanted sexual contact. Examples include unwanted touching, rape, sodomy, coerced nudity, sexual explicit photographing. Signs of sexual abuse.
Abuse in your home
Typically, there are signs of physical abuse both within and outside the relationship in which it occurs. However, spotting the signs of physical abuse may not always be easy and sometimes people choose to overlook them as they don't wish to believe that physical abuse is taking place. There are typically physical, behavioral and emotional signs of physical abuse. Behaviors are seen both in the abuser and in the victim. And while these signs of physical abuse may seem obvious, most victims will try to cover them up so as to hide the abuse due to fear of the abuser or shame about the abuse. While physical violence is never okay, and physical abuse is never the fault of the victim, many victims feel the abuse is their fault. While not strictly physical, many behavioural patterns can also be signs of physical abuse.
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 communication difficulties can be particularly at risk because they may not be able to alert others. Sometimes people may not even be aware that they are being abused, and this is especially likely if they have a cognitive impairment. Abusers may try to prevent access to the person they abuse.