Elder Neglect and Elder Self-Neglect: Two Similar, but Equally Dangerous, Threats to an Elder’s Safety (And What to Do About Them)

As our loved ones age, we discover that there are an endless number of threats to their safety. One of the most unsettling revelations is that our loved one may be a threat to themselves, as they are no longer willing or able to care for themselves.

When a loved one is suffering from elder neglect, we can often identify the caregivers who are neglecting them and enact changes like relocation and more personalized care. When your loved one is the one neglecting themselves, other remedies are necessary.

Conservatorship, guardianship, powers of attorney, and advance directives are among the tools the LLF Law Firm Family Law Team uses to help elders help themselves. These legal resources give loved ones greater power to take care of the elder, even when the elder would choose otherwise.

Call the LLF Law Firm Team today at 888-535-3686or contact us onlineto discuss how our compassionate, tailor-made legal services may benefit your loved one.

The Difference Between Elder Neglect and Elder Self-Neglect

Elder neglect occurs when someone tasked with caring for an elderly individual fails to honor that responsibility. We tend to think of elder abuse as a more active infliction of harm, while elder neglect is often characterized in a more passive light. Examples of elder neglect are:

• Leaving the elder on their own for long periods
• Not bathing, brushing their teeth, or grooming the elder
• Refusing to assist the elder when they need to move
• Failing to administer medications regularly and properly

Importantly, we often associate elder neglect with third parties. But what about when the elder neglects their own well-being? This is what we call elder self-neglect. When the elder is tasked with certain aspects of their own care but is unwilling or unable to uphold the duties of self-care, they are neglectful of themselves.

The signs of elder self-neglect may mirror the signs of elder neglect, with potential red flags including:

• The elder appears unkempt
• The elder not taking medication
• The elder refusing necessary medical care or mental health treatment
• Long periods of isolation

Those who are in a state of self-neglect may also refuse others’ assistance, including their loved ones’ help. When your loved one’s help is at stake, intervention is likely necessary regardless of what the elder says that they want from you.

Discovered a Loved One Is No Longer Caring for Themselves? Here Are a Few Humane Options to Consider

While most of us want to respect our elderly loved ones’ autonomy, we cannot stand by as they slip further into a state of self-neglect. Allow the LLF Law Firm Team to help your loved one and your family, as there are ways to ensure your loved one’s care without infringing on their dignity.

Call the LLF Law Firm Team today at 888-535-3686or contact us online to discuss how guardianships, conservatorships, and other legal remedies can ensure your loved one gets the care they need. These options give loved ones the capacity to help their loved one in their times of need and can be preferable to more wholesale changes like putting a loved one in an assisted care facility.