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.

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

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.

Elder self-neglect is a little-studied phenomenon that often hovers under the radar and goes largely undetected by those charged with caring for some of society's most vulnerable citizens. This interdisciplinary thesis examines the phenomenon of elder self-neglect from the perspectives of three entities most commonly involved in elder self-neglect cases: the medical field, social welfare agencies and law enforcement professionals. The review of the available literature within these three areas relates to the differing perspectives and approaches used by these professions in determining and defining what elder self-neglect is and is not. Within this synthesis, a gap in the knowledge emerges which provides an opportunity for experts to rewrite the paradigm of care currently in place, and replace it with a framework that ensures a thoughtful and coordinated effort exists to provide self-neglecting older adults the highest level of care and concern. This thesis suggests that when professionals in the medical, social welfare and law enforcement fields have a commonly agreed upon definition of what constitutes elder self-neglect, that the real work can begin to address this increasing phenomenon.

Covers: How Are Elders Abused? (case histories, physical abuse and neglect, financial abuse, psychological abuse, self-neglect, sexual abuse, and violation of rights); Theories For Why Abuse Occurs; Survey of the State Human Services Dept. and Adult Protective Service Workers; Federal and State Efforts to Identify and Prevent Elder Abuse (1978-1990); Policy Recommendations; and Appendix (Directory of Officials Responsible for adult Protective Services and Elder Abuse). Photos and charts.

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.

Aims: To explore the unique aspects of the elder self-neglect phenomenon and to achieve phenomenological understanding of self-neglect through the eyes of self-neglecting elders. Method: A qualitative study based on a sample of 16 self-neglecting elders. Data collection was performed through in-depth semi-structured interviews, followed by content analysis. Findings: Four major themes emerged from the older participants: “I was unlucky:” a life course of suffering; “That's the way it is:” self-neglect as a routine of life; “They tell me that I'm disabled:” old age as exposing situations of self-neglect; “My empire:” how do I perceive my old age. Conclusions: Self-neglect is not necessarily an issue of old age, but is related to the person's life history. Self-neglect as a way of life accompanied the participants into old age, but it was not originated or created there. The overall message of the self-neglecting elders was to see them as human beings and not as old neglected people; not to label them as an “age syndrome” but to perceive them in a holistic and humanistic manner.

Written by an award-winning investigative journalist with more than twenty years of experience, Forensic Nursing takes an objective yet engaging look at a profession that according to the author, "is only for those with a strong stomach, a pure heart, and a quick mind." It presents the personal experiences and perspectives of forensic nurses that w