Vulnerable Adults

Which adults are vulnerable?

A person aged 18 years or over.

The working definition for the Code of Practice and guidelines is taken directly from ‘No Secrets’ (Department of Health , March 2000). The broad definition of a ‘vulnerable adult’ is a person:

“who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation”.