Types of Prevention

Primary Prevention

Those activities that decrease the likelihood of abuse ever happening in the first instance.

Examples:

Educating/empowering persons with disabilities — e.g. sexuality education; communications skills training; self-esteem building
Providing supports to family caregivers — e.g. respite services; personal care attendants; transportation
Providing adequate training, support, and supervision for paid caregivers
Implementing effective screening practices at the time of hire

Those activities that reduce the likelihood that abuse will continue or reoccur.

Examples:

Training for mandated and non-mandated reporters on how to recognize and report suspected abuse and neglect
Effective protective service planning
Enforcing criminal and civil laws, as a deterrent to further abuse
Enforcing disciplinary actions, and making referrals to appropriate licensing boards

Those activities that seek, over time, to ameliorate or lessen the harm already done as a result of the abuse.

Examples:

Providing medical and social supports for the victim — e.g. psychotherapy;
peer support counseling; adaptive equipment to increase independence, such as wheelchairs or computers
Legal recourse – e.g. assistance in pursuing criminal charges, or obtaining restraining orders