Patterns of Abuse/Abusing

Patterns of abuse and abusing vary and reflect very different dynamics. These include:

• serial abusing in which the perpetrator seeks out and ‘grooms’ vulnerable individuals. Sexual abuse usually falls into this pattern as do some forms of financial abuse;
  
• long term abuse in the context of an ongoing family relationship such as domestic violence between spouses or generations;
  
• opportunistic abuse such as theft occurring because money has been left around;
  
• instituational abuse which arises because pressures have built up and/or because of difficult or challenging behaviour;
  
• neglect of a person’s needs because those around him or her are not able to be responsible for their care, for example if the carer has difficulties attributable to such issues as debt, alcohol or mental health problems;
  
• institutional abuse which features poor care standards, lack of positive responses to complex needs, rigid routines, inadequate staffing and an insufficient knowledge base within the service;
  
• unacceptable ‘treatments’ or programmes which include sanctions or punishment such as withholding of food and drink, seclusion, unnecessary and unauthorised use of control and restraint (see Harris et al 1996) or over-medication;
  
• failure of agencies to ensure staff receive appropriate guidance on anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice;
  
• failure to access key services such as health care, dentistry, prostheses;
  
• misappropriation of benefits and/or use of the person’s money by other members of the household;
  
• fraud or intimidation in connection with wills, property or other assets.