Anyone can become a victim of abuse regardless of age, gender, financial status or background. Adult abuse crosses all demographic and geographic boundaries. Victims of adult abuse include:
- Older adult (60 and older)
- Developmentally disabled
- Physically disabled
Adult abuse is often a hidden problem partly because the victim often fails to report abuse and mistreatment. Why?
- Guilt, shame and love prevent the abuse from being reported when the abuser is a friend or family member
- Fear of retaliation from the accused abuser
- Perceived lack of a safer alternative to the current living situation
- Impairments making it impossible for the victims to seek help for themselves
- Victims fear the loss of a caregiver - even an abusive one
- Victims may not know where or how to seek help and are often isolated