Most people picture abuse as something obvious.

In reality, it often isn’t.

Older people can experience abuse in ways that are subtle, gradual and difficult to identify. A person may become quieter, stop taking part in activities, appear more anxious around certain individuals or have unexplained changes in their finances or health.

For care leaders, recognising these signs early is an important part of protecting the people who rely on your service.

Abuse Takes Many Forms

Abuse isn’t always physical.

Older people may experience:

• Physical abuse.
• Psychological or emotional abuse.
• Financial abuse.
• Neglect.
• Sexual abuse.
• Discriminatory abuse.
• Organisational abuse.
• Domestic abuse.

Sometimes more than one type of abuse is happening at the same time.

It Doesn’t Always Happen Where You Think

Abuse can happen anywhere.

It may occur:

• In someone’s own home.
• In residential care.
• During hospital admissions.
• Within the family.
• By someone providing paid support.
• By a friend or neighbour.
• By another resident.

Good safeguarding means remaining alert wherever care is being delivered.

Small Changes Can Tell You a Lot

The first signs are often easy to overlook.

A resident who usually enjoys conversation becomes withdrawn.

Someone who always attends activities suddenly stops leaving their room.

An older person who normally manages their finances begins expressing confusion or anxiety about money.

On their own, these changes may have an explanation. Together, they can suggest that something isn’t right.

Financial Abuse Is More Common Than Many Realise

Financial abuse is one of the most under-reported forms of abuse affecting older people.

It may involve:

• Pressure to change a will.
• Unexplained bank withdrawals.
• Missing cash or belongings.
• Someone taking control of finances without permission.
• Misuse of power of attorney.
• Preventing someone from accessing their own money.

Staff who know an individual well are often the first to notice these changes.

Don’t Overlook Neglect

Neglect isn’t always intentional, but it can have serious consequences.

It may involve:

• Poor nutrition or dehydration.
• Missed medication.
• Untreated medical conditions.
• Poor personal hygiene.
• Unsafe living conditions.
• Lack of appropriate clothing or equipment.

Regular observations and accurate record keeping can help identify concerns before they become more serious.

Creating a Culture Where Concerns Are Raised

Safeguarding works best when people feel confident speaking up.

Staff should never feel they need proof before reporting a concern.

Encouraging open discussions, responding positively when concerns are raised and making safeguarding everyone’s responsibility helps create a safer service for both residents and staff.

Training Builds Confidence

Many safeguarding concerns begin with someone noticing that something feels different.

Knowing what to look for, how to record concerns and who to report them to gives staff the confidence to act appropriately.

Regular safeguarding training also helps teams stay up to date with legislation, best practice and local procedures.

How Halo Staffing Can Help

At Halo Staffing, we support care providers through safeguarding training, leadership development and a wide range of mandatory and specialist courses designed for health and social care.

Alongside training, we provide experienced healthcare professionals who understand the importance of protecting vulnerable adults and delivering safe, person-centred care.

Creating a strong safeguarding culture starts with knowledgeable, confident teams. Learn more by clicking the button at the end of this article!

The Earlier Concerns Are Recognised, the Better

Safeguarding isn’t about assuming the worst.

It’s about noticing when something changes, asking the right questions and making sure concerns are acted on appropriately.

A conversation, an observation or a well-recorded concern could be the first step in protecting someone from further harm.