Self-Neglect
Self-neglect differs from the other forms of abuse listed here because it does not involve a perpetrator. While self-neglect is included in some state statutes related to adult protective services (APS), many national experts consider self-neglect a separate phenomena from elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Cases of self-neglect are investigated by APS and often make up a significant portion of their caseload. An investigation can determine if a case is self-neglect or actually neglect, physical, or sexual abuse, or financial exploitation by an offender.
Self-neglect can be life threatening and can pose a risk to others if fire and housing codes are not being followed. Researchers are conducting studies to better understand the causes of self-neglect and effective remedies.
The National Center on Elder Abuse characterizes self-neglect as the behavior of an elderly person that threatens his/her own health or safety. Self-neglect generally manifests itself in an older person as a refusal or failure to provide himself/herself with adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medication (when indicated), and safety precautions.
The definition of self-neglect excludes a situation in which a mentally competent older person, who understands the consequences of his/her decisions, makes a conscious and voluntary decision to engage in acts that threaten his/her health or safety as a matter of personal choice.
Signs and symptoms of self-neglect include but are not limited to:
- Dehydration, malnutrition, untreated or improperly attended medical conditions, and poor personal hygiene;
- Hazardous or unsafe living conditions/arrangements (e.g., improper wiring, no indoor plumbing, no heat, no running water);
- Unsanitary or unclean living quarters (e.g., animal/insect infestation, no functioning toilet, fecal/urine smell);
- Inappropriate and/or inadequate clothing, lack of the necessary medical aids (e.g., eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures); and
- Grossly inadequate housing or homelessness.