ABSTRACT
Furthermore, this includes a broad group of vulnerable clients – anyone who has also been associated with a person who
is receiving any form of health care; is detained in a prison, remand centre, young offender institution,
secure training centre or attendance centre or under the powers of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
is in contact with probation services. Department of Health, No Secrets, 2000
e National Service Framework for Older People (2001) classied people over the age of 65 as older people. While it is not the case that all older people are vulnerable, they represent the largest proportion of clientele receiving care in the NHS and from private healthcare providers. With age, the likelihood of vulnerability increases as we become more dependent physically and psychologically. In dierent types of abusive situations, there is a common element – a breach of trust (see Chapter 5). e general principles are applicable to any type of abuse in respect of all client groups receiving health and/or social care. is chapter focuses on the older patient, although the principles are equally applicable to other groups of victims of abuse such as children and all other groups of vulnerable adults. Depending on the given situation, interventions to deal with the problem will be dierent. It is always dicult to establish the extent of abuse, due to possible underreporting as well as lack of evidence in support of any complaints as abuse may be perpetrated behind closed doors.
