Under the Vulnerable Adults Act, “abuse” includes:

1. physical abuse;

2. emotional or psychological abuse;

3. conduct or behaviour by the respondent that in any other way controls or dominates the Vulnerable Adult (VA) and causes the VA to fear for his or her safety or wellbeing; or

4. conduct or behaviour by the respondent that unreasonably deprives, or threatens to unreasonably deprive, the VA of liberty of movement or wellbeing.

“Physical abuse” includes behaviour that causes, or threatens to cause, personal injury or physical pain to an individual; or one that coerces or attempts to coerce an individual to engage in sexual activity; or one that threatens to injure or cause death.

“Emotional or psychological abuse” includes behaviour that torments, intimidates, harasses or is offensive to a VA; or one that causes or may reasonably be expected to cause mental harm to a VA, to the extent of him/her having thoughts of suicide or inflicting self-harm.

You can find more information on these definitions in Section 2 of the Vulnerable Adults Act (VAA) [here]