Adults at risk

Question 1

Examples of care settings

Answer 1

• Hospitals
• Hospices
• Nursing Homes
• Residential care
• Primary Care Teams (PCTs)
• Resource or day centres and day hospitals
• Voluntary or community lunch clubs or
specifically focused groups

Question 2

Examples of service user groups

Answer 2

• People with learning difficulties/disabilities
• People with mental health impairments
• People with physical and/or sensory impairments
• Homeless
-violence
-drugs
-disease
• People with life threatening illnesses or other major health conditions
-reliant on other people (can lead to being taken advantage of - neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse)
-immuno-suppressed or mental side effects
• People unable to live alone
• People with substance misuse issues
-dependent on dealers
• People who are meeting socially

Question 3

Defining at risk

Answer 3

18 yrs or older and:
• An adult to whom accommodation and nursing
or personal care are provided in a care home
• An adult to whom personal care is provided n
their own home under arrangements made by a
domiciliary care agency
• An adult to whom prescribed services are
provided by an independent hospital, clinic,
medical agency, or NHS body

Question 4

Who decides who is at risk?

Answer 4

Lord Chancellor’s Department (1998) mental capacity and
decision making:
A person aged over 18 years of age who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness
AND
Who may be unable to take care of him or herself, or
unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation

Question 5

2 types of power relationships

Answer 5

• Residential care settings for people without
cognitive impairments
• Residential care settings for people with cognitive
impairments

Question 6

Dementia and vulnerable oral health

Answer 6

Xerostomia due to drugs
Forget to brush teeth
-stress and bereavement for partner
-might benefit if social services are made aware e.g. for additional care

Question 7

Definition of abuse

Answer 7

‘Abuse is the violation of an individual’s human

and civil rights by another person or persons.’

Question 8

Types of abuse

Answer 8

Physical
Sexual
Psychological
Material/ financial
Neglect

Question 9

Groups at high risk of abuse

Answer 9

People lacking mental capacity, or with limited awareness
People who are severely physically impaired
People with sensory impairments
People who are semi-comatose/ comatose
People with aphasia

Question 10

Factors making people at risk vulnerable to abuse

Answer 10

• Over compliance and dependence on a service
or practitioner
• Fear of retaliation from complaining
• No support networks outside a service
• Social isolation
• Unable to or have difficulty communicating
• Practitioner/organisational factors

Question 11

7 indicators of abuse

Answer 11

• Physical
• Psychological
• Neglect
• Financial
• Institutional
• Self harm
• Sexual

Question 12

Dentistry and the adult at risk

Answer 12

Inverse Care Law states that those in need are least likely to receive
• Dentistry has a duty of care to provide services to
everyone
• Homeless experience high levels of dental problems
• People with learning difficulties experience poorer oral
health than the general population
• Not providing care may be deemed abusive
• Restraining adults at risk may be constituted as abuse
• People may exhibit challenging behaviour based on past
experiences

Question 13

What if someone does not have a protected characteristic?

Answer 13

One example may be domestic violence and/or abuse
• If you suspect then create a space for the person to talk
• If they disclose then listen, don’t judge
• Address immediate safety issues
• If they do not want to take immediate action signpost them and let
them know you are there for them
Another example is forced marriage which is a crime under
UK Law.
• Follow current guidance around forced marriage
*Always follow local procedures and make sure you are up to date with
guidance