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

Includes introduction and overview of the literature; statement of the problem and study rationale; research methods, data collection and analysis; assessing research quality; constructing the social problem of self-neglect; defining elder abuse: should self-neglect be included? setting the future agenda for self-neglect; explicating the key concepts, processes, and framework for understanding self-neglect among the elderly; threats to identity and personal control; strategies, resources, and responses to identity and control threats; current policy issues; and recommendations.

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 failed Discussing 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.

While elder abuse is a topic that has been widely explored, elder self-neglect is a subject that has not really been defined, much less discussed at any length. This volume is the first comprehensive work on the prevalent geriatric problem of self-neglect. It contains original clinical research and analyzes the medical, psychological, and social aspects of geriatric self-neglect from various perspectives of professionals within the geriatric field. This volume opens with an overview of elder self-neglect, including a general framework that describes exactly what is involved with this clinical problem. The authors then explore the broad societal implications of self-neglect before going on to examine special risks and subgroups that are associated with this dilemma. The final chapter investigates areas of research likely to enhance further understanding of this problem. Social workers, nurses and geriatric professionals who are concerned with this threat to our elderly will find this volume to be a valuable resource that provides an interdisciplinary perspective on health and social services.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the important developments that have occurred in the field of research related to the abuse & neglect of older adults since 1989. The first section briefly reviews previous Canadian research on the subject. Section 2 covers the definitions of the different types of abuse & neglect and discusses the disputes that have arisen over how to define. Subsequent sections review the research on the following: abuse & neglect of older adults in domestic and institutional settings; characteristics of victims and perpetrators; theories of abuse & neglect; risk factors for abuse; protocols for abuse & neglect detection, assessment, and intervention; programs and services developed to address the issue; and prevention. The final section is a brief look to the future.

Abstract: Self-neglect among the elderly accounts for the majority of Adult Protective Service referrals. However, the subjective experiences of those identified as self-neglectful remains relatively understudied and unknown. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived-experiences of those older adults identified as self-neglectful and the meaning of those experiences. The research questions for this study were fourfold: What were the lived experiences of the older persons identified as self-neglectful? What were the salient issues in the lives of those older persons identified as self neglectful? How did these older persons experience self-neglect? What were the meanings of those experiences to the study participants? Twelve older persons identified as self-neglectful served as subjects. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, researcher observations, and field notes. A multiple case study design was applied to the study. The multiple cases served as basic data sources. Cross-case and cross-interview analysis was applied to answering the research questions. Findings from the study revealed ten major themes which are presented and discussed. There was evidence older persons do not interpret their behaviors and actions as self-neglectful. Social work and policy implications are also discussed.

Elder Abuse and Its Prevention is the summary of a workshop convened in April 2013 by the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Global Violence Prevention. Using an ecological framework, this workshop explored the burden of elder abuse around the world, focusing on its impacts on individuals, families, communities, and societies. Additionally, the workshop addressed occurrences and co-occurrences of different types of abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional, and financial, as well as neglect. The ultimate objective was to illuminate promising global and multisectoral evidence-based approaches to the prevention of elder maltreatment. While the workshop covered scope and prevalence and unique characteristics of abuse, the intention was to move beyond what is known about elder abuse to foster discussions about how to improve prevention, intervention, and mitigation of the victims' needs, particularly through collaborative efforts. The workshop discussions included innovative intervention models and opportunities for prevention across sectors and settings. Violence and related forms of abuse against elders is a global public health and human rights problem with far-reaching consequences, resulting in increased death, disability, and exploitation with collateral effects on well-being. Data suggest that at least 10 percent of elders in the United States are victims of elder maltreatment every year. In low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of violence is the greatest, the figure is likely even higher. In addition, elders experiencing risk factors such as diminishing cognitive function, caregiver dependence, and social isolation are more vulnerable to maltreatment and underreporting. As the world population of adults aged 65 and older continues to grow, the implications of elder maltreatment for health care, social welfare, justice, and financial systems are great. However, despite the magnitude of global elder maltreatment, it has been an underappreciated public health problem. Elder Abuse and Its Prevention discusses the prevalence and characteristics of elder abuse around the world, risk factors for abuse and potential adverse health outcomes, and contextually specific factors, such as culture and the role of the community.

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