As elders become more physically frail, they’re less able to stand up to bullying and or fight back if attacked. They may not see or hear as well or think as clearly as they used to, leaving openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. Mental or physical ailments may make them more trying companions for the people who live with them. The personalisation of health and care services remains a major thrust of Government policy, and indeed of Conservative policy according to their 2009 conference. This policy remains committed to facilitating as wide a debate on the safeguarding issues surrounding personalisation and have just concluded two highly successful conferences on the subject. Most common form of abuse could be the elder neglect, failure to fulfill a caretaking obligation. This constitutes more than half of all reported cases of elder abuse. It can be active (intentional) or passive (unintentional, based on factors such as ignorance or denial that an elderly charge needs as much care as he or she does). Care homes in Hampshire explained last year that there are two type of neglect: “Active” neglect refers to behavior that is willful - that is, the caregiver intentionally withholds care or necessities. The neglect may be motivated by financial gain (e.g. the caregiver stands to inherit) or reflect interpersonal conflicts. And “Passive” neglect refers to situations in which the caregiver is unable to fulfill his or her care giving responsibilities as a result of illness, disability, stress, ignorance, lack of maturity, or lack of resources.

Elder abuse tends to take place where the senior lives: most often in the home where abusers are apt to be adult children; other family members such as grandchildren; or spouses/partners of elders. Institutional settings especially long-term care facilities can also be sources of elder abuse. Self neglect refers to situations in which there is no perpetrator and neglect is the result of the older person refusing care.