Understand the complex ethical, legal, medical, and psychological issues of the most common form of elder abuse!Self-Neglect examines the social, ethical, medical, and practical implications of the most prevalent form of elder abuse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and it poses ethical questions that cannot be answered simply. Yet it is so common and so destructive that anyone who works with geriatric patients must come to terms with it. Everyone is familiar with the image of the wild-haired elderly recluse hoarding junk in a dilapidated house, but to their neighbors, friends, and family--as well as to the health care professionals, social workers, and clergy who deal with them--these recluses are a special burden. They often refuse care despite such obvious problems as open sores. They tend to be intelligent and independent. Do they have the right to choose to live in squalor, or are their choices dictated by depression or other diseases? Do health care professionals have a responsibility to treat them against their will or a duty to respect their stated preferences?Self-Neglect examines the topics of passive suicide and indirect life-threatening behavior to help medical practitioners working with the elderly understand why patients do not follow doctor's orders or take care of themselves. Through case studies, this informative book explores the ways in which patients practice self-neglect by ignoring their doctors’advice, extreme lack of self-care, refusal to eat, failure to take their prescribed medication, and alcohol abuse. Self-Neglect offers insight into many facets of this condition, including: choosing among the many definitions of self-neglect what kinds of people become self-neglecting managing self-neglecting patients when and how to intervene the patient's autonomy and personal rights versus the rights of the community self-neglect as a way to gain control of a negative life situation when other tactics have failedDiscussing the sometimes tragic outcome of misdiagnosing self-neglect or leaving it untreated, this intelligent book will help you identify and understand this dangerous behavior and offer your patients better care for this condition.

A practice-based perspective on working with people who self-neglect. This book explores the issues and situations which can arise and helps practitioners to adopt a strengths-based “Learning from Life” approach in the translation of MSP principles to practical implementation. Self-neglect: Learning from Life helps frontline practitioners ensure that Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) is an everyday reality. Using two case scenarios, the authors examine issues and practice-based situations which arise in the daily application of MSP to casework with adults. The scenarios demonstrate lifespan and experience issues in the adoption of MSP as person-centred and person-led practice with people who self-neglect. The statutory principles of Empowerment, Prevention, Proportionality, Protection, Partnership, and Accountability are also translated into practical language and their meaning and implications are unpacked. This journey from principles to practical implementation uses a suite of clear and concise practice focused resources which adopt a person-centred, relationship-based approach to all conversations, interventions and aspects of practice. The resources include: a range from SnapShots on...- a selection of relevant topic areas in work with adults at risk through their safeguarding journey practice-based tools for practitioners to use in the quality monitoring of their own casework Taking it Further” referencing and suggested sources of more information. This invaluable book fills a gap that currently exists in the practical application of the statutory MSP principles as part of a “life-span approach” to work with people who self-neglect. It minimises the risks associated with “siloed” approaches to ensure the person is held at the centre of all interventions.

In this second edition of their classic volume, the authors present their elder abuse diagnosis and intervention model. This comprehensive model of detection, assessment, and intervention enables the practitioner first to identify the type of elder mistreatment, including physical, sexual, psychological, and financial. It then provides systematic and realistic interventions. This updated edition also includes information on legal interventions with suggestions on how the practitioner should act in the courtroom, give testimony, document findings, and prepare for legal involvement with the criminal justice system. Actual legal tools are included in the appendix. This is a classic resource for all health professionals who work with the elderly.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, devoted to Medical Implications of Elder Abuse and Neglect, is edited by Drs. Lisa Gibbs and Laura Mosqueda. Articles in this issue include: Physiology of Aging; Understanding the Medical Markers of Elder Abuse and Neglect: Physical Exam Findings; Medical Markers of Elder Abuse and Neglect: Laboratory Findings; Common Presentations of Elder Abuse in Healthcare Settings; Physical Abuse; Elder Abuse and Neglect by Others; Geriatric Sexual Abuse; Emotional Abuse in Geriatrics; Self- Neglect in Geriatrics; Capacity Assessment in Elder Abuse and Neglect; Geriatric Dementia and Abuse; Mental Health/ Psychiatric Issues in Elder Abuse and Neglect; Care of the Victim in Elder Abuse and Neglect; Prevention and Early Identification of Elder Abuse and Neglect; and Doctors Roles and Relationships with other Agencies in Elder Abuse and Neglect.

Psychosocial and holistic approaches to assessment have become a central feature of modern mental health care. This practical and comprehensive book guides students through the theory and practice of psychosocial assessments to help them integrate the data as preparation for the effective planning of treatment and interventions. Key features: step-by-step guide on how to undertake each stage of the assessment process in practice clinical staff and service users voices describing their experiences of the process end of chapter exercises reflections and considerations for practice This is essential reading for pre-registration nursing students and mental health professionals.

The mistreatment of older people is categorized in many societies as “elder abuse and neglect,” yet the concept has not been subjected to rigorous critical inquiry. Instead, it has most often represented the interests of professionals, academics, and governments, while policy makers and researchers frequently overlook or disregard the complexity of issues that fall under this designation. Contesting Elder Abuse and Neglect questions existing understandings about the mistreatment of older people. It explores how and why the designation “elder abuse and neglect” came to be and shows how this term masks problems concerning the mistreatment of older people, their place in society, and how they see themselves. Joan R. Harbison and her colleagues expose how supposed solutions to the problem of abuse can take their toll on those people they were originally intended to protect. The book is an important contribution to the literature that encourages new thinking about issues concerning the mistreatment of older people.

Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment in developed countries and it comes in many forms. From evaluating the effects of neglect on the child to looking at root causes, this wide-ranging book offers evidence-based, practical guidance to support all practitioners in their work with neglected children. In particular: - It assesses a range of methods of intervention and how these best apply to the various needs of different families - It explores the tensions and dilemmas that practitioners can face when working with neglected children - It demonstrates ways that practitioners can work together to promote better outcomes for the child. - It provides frameworks and prompts, such as engaging case studies and reflective questions that can assist practitioners in their work Written by a leading authority on child neglect, this book is essential for all students taking courses in child welfare and will also prove an invaluable handbook for practitioners working with families where there are signs of child neglect.

The proportion of the aged in society today is greater than ever before and growing faster than any other segment of the population. Law enforcement officers are increasingly called upon to manage the needs of the older population they serve. Elder Crimes, Elder Justice addresses all of the special needs of older people and gives the law enforcement officer the confidence that is needed to understand the aging process, communicate effectively with older people, understand the fears of older people, develop effective crime prevention strategies, and respond effectively to the older perpetrator. This book offers insights into the special considerations of the growing elderly population and teaches how to handle day-to-day interactions astutely and empathetically, resulting in a positive outcome for the law enforcement official, for the older person, and for the community. Key Features: -Topics include crime and the older adult; the criminal victimization of older adults; communicating with and interviewing the elderly crime victim; crime specific issues facing the older population; and the older adult as perpetrator. -Each chapter contains multiple case studies. These case studies prompt the reader to think about what they might do if they encounter a similar situation in the field. -Includes Communication Tips throughout to remind the reader of communication issues and how to communicate properly with older adults. -Includes Attitude Tips throughout that demonstrate to the reader how to appropriately handle issues involving older adults

An unequalled compendium of cutting-edge information on self neglect This authoritative resource in provides nurses and healthcare professionals with a comprehensive overview and analysis of self-neglect in older adults. With an aging global population, self-neglect is emerging as a complex problem that crosses multiple disciplines of health and social care. Characterized by a harmful inattention to health and hygiene, self-neglect manifests in a variety of ways across the world that healthcare professionals need to be able to recognize and manage. The only text with the latest analysis of theoretical perspectives, research, and evidence from global leaders in the field, chapters tackle the interdisciplinary problem of self-neglect to deliver current professional practice tools and clinical practice interventions. Replete with case studies that examine the ethical, legal, and medical issues of self-neglect, the content is immediately applicable to researchers and clinicians. An extensive list of contributors from the U.S., Ireland, England, Scotland, Australia, Israel, Canada, and Korea include respected researchers, practitioners, and academics from multiple health and social care disciplines along with health and social care services who have played a critical role in advancing research, public awareness, and policy on self-neglect. Key Features: Delivers multi-faceted, cutting-edge information on self-neglect in older adults for nurses and related healthcare professionals Addresses theory, research, evidence, assessment and measurement, and clinical practice interventions Includes practical applications, case studies, and illustrations in each chapter Authored by an international panel of authoritative leaders in gerontology Provides debate and discussion on self-neglect that will promote further enquiry and research