skip to main content

Safeguarding adults at risk

Safeguarding adults at risk

Common indicators

These common indicators should be used to help identify people who may be experiencing a at risk of abuse or neglect: 

Socio-emotional Indicators: 

  • Numbing, flatness, or decrease in emotional responsiveness  

  • Increased dependency on others and services  

  • Withdrawal or social isolation 

  • Aggression or irritability 

  • Becoming unusually quiet, withdrawn, agitated, or aggressive 

  • Difficulty concentrating or decision making  

  • Worsening of mental health concerns  

  • Emotional outbursts or panic attacks  

  • Feeling of hopelessness, helplessness, or being a burden to others 

  • Self-harm or suicidal ideation  

  • Anxiety, paranoia or suspicion 

 

Behavioural Indicators: 

 

  • Neglecting personal care or hygiene 

  • Substance use 

  • Difficulty maintaining a habitable home 

  • Increase in risky or dangerous behaviour  

  • Hoarding or difficulty discarding possessions 

  • A failure to respond to correspondence or to answer the door when visited 

  • Refusing to allow access for gas safety checks, repairs or other routine visits 

  • Evidence of excessive alcohol use, drug paraphernalia 

  • Frequent reports of ASB or reports of disputes with neighbours or family 

  • Changes in communication (hyper-frequent or limited contact)  

  • Reliance on others to communicate or unable to directly communicate with the tenant   

 

Physical Indicators: 

 

  • Unexplained or reoccurring physical injuries or bruises 

  • Changes to the residents’ normal physical presentation, i.e., changes to weight 

  • Physical damage to the home i.e., holes in walls, doors being forced, internal doors being removed, or locks on internal doors 

  • Frequent lock changes 

  • Unaddressed damp and mould 

  • Clutter, mess or rubbish rotting and piling up, bins not cleared or used. Bad smells coming from home. 

  • Pests in home 

 

Financial indicators: 

 

  • Lack of heating, clothing or food. 

  • Candles being used for lighting  

  • Unexplained shortage of money 

  • Unexplained withdrawals from an account 

  • Unexplained loss/misplacement of financial documents, 

  • The recent addition of authorised account holders/signatories  

  • Unexplained changes in a will or other financial documents 

  • Debt and rent arrears, including failing into arrears when tenant previously had good payment history 

  • Lack of suitable furniture, white goods or other household items 

 

Situational Indicators: 

 

  • Major life changes e.g. job loss, financial difficulties, relationship problems, or bereavement. 

  • Experience of discrimination or abuse  

  • Forced displacement from home or community  

 
Last updated: 22 October 2025