is intentional bodily injury. This is normally the easiest form of abuse to identify; bruises, limping, stories of the vulnerable adult “hurting themselves”.

Some examples include non-consensual slapping, pinching, choking, kicking, shoving, or inappropriately using drugs or physical restraints.

is controlling the vulnerable adults ability to acquire, use, and maintain financial resources. This form of abuse can be very hard to identify from the outside, as it can be quite subtle, but you may notice the vulnerable adult suddenly quit their job, refuse to go out with friends due to financial reasons (when they previously had no financial restraints), or stating they are not allowed to buy certain items while shopping.

Examples include not allowing them to have their own bank account, pay for their own items, or have a job. This also can include the person ruining the vulnerable adults credit history and manipulating the vulnerable adult into thinking they have no right to their own finances, or they do not deserve to work.

is deliberately causing mental or emotional pain. This form of abuse is frequently hidden behind closed doors. There are no physical signs on the body, but it can be identified by the vulnerable adult possibly having low self-esteem, or being intimidated when another adult around them is upset. In children, this form of abuse can possibly be identified if the child speaks to other children in a demeaning way, or yells and swears at peers when angry.

Examples include intimidation, coercion, ridiculing, harassment, treating an adult like a child, isolating an adult from family, friends, or regular activity, use of silence to control behavior, and yelling or swearing which results in mental distress.

is nonconsensual sexual contact (any unwanted sexual contact). This form of abuse frequently makes the vulnerable adult feel ashamed, which means they will not speak out for help. Some ways to identify this type of abuse are by noticing if someone has an unhealthy relationship with sex, through talking/joking about it, seeing bruises around the breasts or genital area, or torn/bloody underclothing.

Examples include unwanted touching, rape, sodomy, coerced nudity, voyeurism and sexual explicit photographing. It can also include stalking, cyber harassment, trafficking and incest.

 occurs when a vulnerable adult or his/her resources or income are illegally or improperly used for another person’s profit or gain. This can occur hand in hand with financial abuse.

Examples include illegally withdrawing money out of another person’s account, forging checks, or stealing things out of the vulnerable adult’s house.

 occurs when a vulnerable adult or child is left without the ability to obtain necessary food, clothing, shelter or health care. Watch for signs of the vulnerable adult or child showing visible signs of hunger, food hoarding, not showering, wearing the same clothes repeatedly or suddenly needing a place to stay when they previously had a home.

Examples include deserting a vulnerable adult or child in a public place, leaving a vulnerable adult or child at home without the means of getting basic life necessities, or forcing the vulnerable adult or child out of their home with no resources.

occurs when a person, either through his/her action or inaction, deprives a vulnerable adult or child of the care necessary to maintain the vulnerable adult’s, or child’s, physical or mental health. This type of abuse occurs with abandonment, though abandonment does not always occur when someone is being neglected. Neglect has many of the same signs as abandonment to watch for.

Examples include not providing basic items such as food, water, clothing, a safe place to live, medicine, or health care.