Types
of Elder
Abuse
10
Self-Neglect
“...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.”
Possible Indicators
“Signs and symptoms ... include but are not limited to:
Ì dehydration, malnutrition,
untreated or improperly attended
medical conditions, and poor
personal hygiene;
Ì hazardous or unsafe living
conditions/arrangements (e.g.,
improper wiring, no indoor
plumbing, no heat, no running
water, [hoarding]);
Ì unsanitary or unclean living quarters
(e.g., animal/insect infestation, no
functioning toilet, fecal/urine smell);
Ì inappropriate and/or inadequate
clothing, lack of the necessary
medical aids (e.g., eyeglasses,
hearing aids, dentures); and
Ì grossly inadequate housing or
homelessness.”
Possible Crimes
Self-neglect is NOT a crime. However, it has two connections to the criminal
justice system:
Ì Self-neglecting behaviors may be an indicator or result of some other type
of elder abuse (e.g., financial exploitation may result in an older person not
being able to aord food or utilities); and
Ì An older person who is self-neglecting may come to the attention of the
criminal justice system before coming to the attention of adult protective
services because of criminal behavior (e.g., law enforcement may be asked
to investigate allegations that a self-neglecter is abusing or neglecting
a child or dependent adult, is committing animal abuse or neglect, or is
violating municipal codes by hoarding animals or other things).
Types
of Elder
Abuse:
Self-
Neglect