Self-neglect
This covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.
Self-neglect can have a significant impact on a person's wellbeing.
Signs that someone is self-neglecting could include:
- very poor personal hygiene and unkempt appearance. They lack essential food, clothing or shelter.
- unwillingness or inability to take medication or treat illness or injury. Person may be malnourished or dehydrated. and refusing offers of support
- living in squalid or unsanitary conditions and neglecting household maintenance.
- long-term hoarding behaviours, with an inability to throw away items without experiencing fear and anxiety
Self-neglect is a complex issue. It can be intentional, such as not going to the doctor when they know they are unwell.
Sometimes it is unintentional or passive, for example, a person with dementia not remembering to cook food for themselves due to memory loss.