Advice on safeguarding and protecting older people | Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland

What is abuse?

Abuse against an older person can take many forms, such as physical, emotional, sexual and financial, as well as through neglect, and the impact of abuse can have devastating consequences for the victim.

Types of abuse

Type of abuse	Description
Emotional/Psychological	Bullying, verbal abuse, humiliation, threats of harm
Neglect	Withdrawal or denial of help and care that is needed causing hardship and suffering
Physical	Hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, burning, physical restraint, harmful medication
Sexual	Being forced to have sexual intercourse or perform sexual acts, indecent exposure, or serious innuendos being stated
Financial	Theft, fraud, exploitation, forgery, misuse of powers of attorney, undue influence to hand over money or sign a will or bank withdrawal
Discriminatory	Being treated differently because of age, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability
Institutional	Repeated instances of poor or inadequate care

What are the signs of abuse?

If you identify with or recognise the behaviours below, you or someone you know may be suffering from abuse.

Acting fearfully or withdrawing
Signs of stress, anxiety or depression
Bruising or other physical injuries
An inability to pay normal bills or having unpaid bills
Feeling helpless
Problems sleeping and lack of appetite
No longer enjoying yourself or wanting to go out
Loss of confidence
Hesitant to talk to other people

Signs that someone might be abusing an older person

Seeing a person verbally or physically abuse the older person
A person speaking on behalf of the older person without consent
Injuries which occur regularly – black eyes, bruises or cuts
Conflicting stories about injuries
Unusual difficulty with finances – unpaid bills or debts

How to help safeguard and protect an older person

Talk to your solicitor about a will and the need for power of attorney.
Seek independent legal advice before you sign official documents/papers.
Use an advocate or advocacy service to help make decisions.
Look after your health and consult your doctor if your notice any changes in your mood, memory and general physical wellbeing.
Keep in regular social contact with family, friends and neighbours.
Consult the police for advice on how to make your home safe.