Individuals who recognize the characteristics that describe victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation have a better ability to evaluate and report suspected abuse.

Characteristics
Female: There are more abused, neglected, and exploited women simply because there are more women than men. Older women are also less likely to resist abusive behavior and are more vulnerable to sexual molestation.	Substance abusers: Alcoholics and substance abusers may be susceptible to abusive behavior and maybe self-neglectful. Mis-medication, whether intentional or not, and whether by prescription, over-the-counter, or street drugs, often places a person at greater risk.
Advanced age: As people age, they may lose the capacity or strength to resist or defend themselves.	Past abuse: An individual may have a history of abusive relationships with the abuser or the victim.
Dependency: Adults who depend on others for their care may be more vulnerable.	Isolation: Because of physical impairments that lead to social isolation, abuse goes undetected.
Excessive Loyalty: If the victim has a strong sense of loyalty to the caregiver, he/she will probably not seek help.	Impairment: The greater the individual’s need for care the greater the demand on the caregiver. If the person’s disability includes mental impairment, it may increase the caregiver’s stress..
Intergenerational conflict: Sometimes past problems between parents and adult children become intensified by an increasing dependency.	Fear: Some persons tolerate abuse without seeking relief because they are afraid of retaliation, worsening the situation, losing care or being institutionalized..
Internalized blame: The victim may take responsibility for the abuse, neglect, or exploitation and fail to acknowledge that it is the fault of the abuser.	Difficult behavior: Some elder adults may be very demanding, unpleasant, and ungrateful as well as physically and verbally aggressive toward their caregivers.

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