When mentioning “elder abuse,” we may immediately think of a scammer getting access to a senior’s finances or an amoral and shameless family member exploiting an aging loved one for personal and financial gain.
However, you’ll find a subcategory known as “elder self-neglect” when pulling on an invisible thread in the fabric of elder abuse. Experts believe this type of self-abuse has become a rising trend among aging individuals, particularly those aging at home.
So what is elder self-neglect? How can you spot the signs and provide help?
This article will give you answers to these questions.
What Is Elder Self-Neglect?
According to the National Institutes of Health study published, elder self-neglect is “refusal or failure to provide oneself with care and protection in areas of food, water, clothing, hygiene, medication, living environments, and safety precautions.”
Self-neglect in seniors leads to poor physical and mental health. Given that elders are more likely to suffer from a chronic illness, dementia, or depression, they’re more at risk of self-neglect. Data shows this problem has been growing in the last few years due to an increasing number of aging individuals who live alone.
Common Signs of Elder Self-Neglect
The Selfneglect.org reveals that elder self-neglect features take months to years to develop. Therefore, family members and friends may not notice the change as significant.
However, here are common warning signs that are easy to spot from the outside:
- Poor personal hygiene
- Messy clothes, hair, or nails
- Unusual odors
- Unexplained weight loss
- Poor diet and nutrition
- Filthy home and infestations (e.g., mice, insects)
- Odd behavior and lifestyles
- Rotten food and bad smells
- Not refilling medications
- Refusal to seek medical help for serious illness
- Decreased ability to perform daily activities
- Refusal to let people that provide services into the house (e.g., health care providers and utility workers)
- Social isolation
- Forgetful behaviors (e.g., not paying the bills or leaving a burning stove and going to sleep)
- Decreased ability to reason
- Confusion, depression, or psychosis (such as hallucinations)
How To Help The Elderly With Self-Neglect
If your aging loved one is exhibiting any of the signs above, you could do the following things to offer assistance and support:
- Help the senior avoid isolation with visits, phone calls, driving for them, etc.
- Take care of their situations, such as cleaning their living space
- Get to medical appointments
- Get help from other family members, charitable organizations, or agencies (e.g., Adult Protective Services)
If these things don’t work well, it may be time to consider professional assisted living memory care options. While many elders see needing assistance as losing their independence, finding quality care can prolong their independence and help them live a happier, healthier, and safer life.
You should determine what type of care is best for your loved one, whether a senior living community or an in-home caregiver. Ask your aging loved one their preference for care options, then try to understand their point of view.
Conclusion
Elder self-neglect is a silent epidemic that impacts elders across all genders, cultures, races, and income levels. By recognizing signs and providing adequate support, you can help your loved one live a better life.