Self Neglect – When to Take Action
Published: 09/08/2018
Safeguarding is the official term for protecting vulnerable people from abuse. Generally, all those forms of abuse are inflicted by others but there is one form of abuse, categorised as self neglect, which is inflicted on yourself. In this blog we are going to share some of the experiences we have had looking after the elderly in the Farnham and Guildford areas and discuss what would be termed as self neglect rather than just a lifestyle choice. self neglect can happen at any age but it is most common in the elderly.
Lifestyle choice
Lifestyle choice is about choosing to live your life in a certain way. That might include leaving the dirty dishes by the sink for a few days or only having a shower once a week.
Self Neglect
If someone never washes, is living in soiled clothing, is not eating or drinking enough to stay healthy or is living with vermin in their house, it is a clear case of self neglect.
When Does Lifestyle Choice become Self Neglect?
The challenge is the grey area in between these two extremes where it is not clear if it is a lifestyle choice or should be classified as self neglect. In this instance I think it is important to consider if the possible self neglect is intentional or unintentional.
Many of the cases we have seen here in Guildford, Farnham, Fleet and Godalming have been unintentional and are often linked to the fact that the individual is living with dementia, so they are unaware that they are not looking after themselves properly.
If it is unintentional I would err on the side of caution and treat it as self neglect. If it is intentional then perhaps a discussion with the individual might help resolve the situation.
When to Take Action
If you are concerned that a loved one is neglecting themselves, here are some steps to consider;
- Talk to the individual about the situation – your concerns may be enough to encourage them to make a change.
- Try and agree with the individual to put in place some regular home care if this will help with hygiene, nutrition or any other concerns.
- If the person will not respond to this then you may need to report it to the local Safeguarding Team. This may feel like a drastic step but this department within your local social services team are used to dealing with these situations and should be able to help.
If the person does not have the capacity to understand what the problem is and you have a Health and Welfare Power of Attorney, you are able to make decisions in their best interests about their welfare. This could include moving them to residential care or arranging some support at home. If you do not have this Power of Attorney then it is much more complicated and you are best to speak to a solicitor.
A Story about Self Neglect
Dee lives in a small cottage in Godalming where she has been for 34 years. Her husband died six years ago and she has dementia. Her daughter Fiona lives a couple of hours away and visits once a week. In recent weeks Fiona has noticed that the house is starting to smell a bit and she suspects that her Mum is not washing herself. She has spoken to her Mum about this but Dee assures her that she is washing every other day as she always has.
In another visit, Fiona discussed it again and her Mum disclosed that she was nervous about showering as she was worried she might slip in the shower. They talked about various options and arranged for a CareGiver from Right at Home to visit twice a week to help Dee with a shower and some of the house work.
A month later, when Fiona visited, the house was much cleaner and Dee was more her confident and cheerful self. Dee was also keen to tell Fiona about her friend Alison, the CareGiver from Right at Home and what they have been up to together – most recently a visit to the garden centre.
If you know someone living in Farnham, Fleet, Farnborough, Aldershot, Godalming, Guildford or Alton who you think might benefit from RIght at Home’s home care services then do get in touch to see if we can help.
