VNA Home Healthcare / VNA Personal Services / VNA Hospice

Identifying Self Neglect
Whether we are medical caregivers or family caregivers, we can easily overlook signs of self-neglect in the elders we care for. Last year, amednews.com reported that "a study of 91 patients with self-neglect syndrome found that 92% had contact with their primary care physician within three months before their assessment by protective services." Amednews.com

Personal care, particularly if an elder is being treated for a recent injury or illness, can become a challenge. Sometimes it is simply a temporary condition and can certainly be expected to improve as mobility improves. Persistent, poor hygiene however, can signal self-neglect and should be considered an important indicator of an elder's overall well-being. Other indicators of self neglect include:

Memory problems
Inconsistent compliance with such things as PT and medications
Lack of concern about a chronic and obvious health condition
Poor hygiene
Little to no food on hand and/or spoiled food
Unkept and/or unsafe living conditions
Isolation
Lack of utilities
Inability to care for pets

It's important as well to anticipate issues before they become problems. If you're making sure to stop for Dunkin' Donuts before you visit an elder family member because they never seem to have fresh milk for your coffee, it might not be just "because that's the way they are." It might be because they do not notice their milk is spoiling.

If you are constantly trying to turn on lights and finding they are burned out or unplugged, or if you are constantly turning the heat up or down when you visit, consider whether the elder you care for is in a situation that is becoming unsafe. Always having to feed the cat might be a subtle sign of growing neglect - it's important to not set aside something like that as "the cat is always hungry." Dismissing early signs of self-neglect is very easy to do but if you are careful not to guard against it, you can avoid much greater problems later on.