While there are a number of articles and conversations regarding recognizing the signs of elder abuse, one of the more common overlooked issues is recognizing the self-neglect of senior adults.

What is elder self-neglect?

Elder self-neglect is a huge concern for many seniors and their loved ones. According to the National Institute of Health, (NIH) elder self-neglect is best defined as “refusal or failure to provide oneself with care and protection in areas of food, water, clothing, hygiene, medication, living environments and safety precautions.”

As senior adults age, they can often struggle to complete the necessary, everyday tasks they need to stay healthy and functional. This can look like poor personal hygiene, missing medications, doctor’s appointments, skipping meals and even staying isolated in one place.

According to census data, around 25% of adults aged 65 or older live alone. That comes out to around 14.3 million Americans. Each year, this number only increases as well. According to more data, older adults spend at least half of their waking hours alone, if not more.

Unfortunately, this provides plenty of time for health and well-being to deteriorate, even possibly going unnoticed. Time spent alone can lead to a downward spiral, especially for those with dementia or other memory loss related issues. Those with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, elevates the cause for concern.

What are the signs of elder self-neglect?

Whether you are the primary caregiver, or have a senior adult in your life that you love and are concerned about, here are some signs to keep in mind. Elder self-neglect may not be easy to spot. They may even try to brush it off or say that everything is fine, even when it is not.

Some signs to be aware of include:

• Take a look in their fridge or pantry. Do they have good that is going spoiled or rotting? Does it look like they have been missing trips to the grocery store?


• Check their calendar or date book. Are they missing important appointments, such as doctor visits or dental checkups?


• Do they have frequent, unexplained bruising on their body?


• Are they struggling to get up from a seated position?


• Do they have any difficulties with mobility or walking? Is getting around their home a struggle?


• Do they appear to be uncertain or have confusion when performing basic or routine tasks?


• Are they becoming more and more forgetful?


• Do they have unpleasant body odor? This could mean that they are skipping bathing and not taking care of their personal hygiene.


• Is there a noticeable decline in grooming habits, such as unruly or unkempt hair or an overgrown beard or facial hair that looks unclean?


• Take a look around their home. Is the laundry piling up? Do they have a lot of dirty dishes? What about mail and other clutter?


• Keep an eye out for late notices from utility companies, or mail from debt collectors. Check their power and water. Is everything running and functioning?


• Are they eating properly, or have they gained or lost a significant amount of weight recently?


• Are they showing less interest in their hobbies or interests lately? Do they just seem overall resigned or checked out?


• Are they experiencing erratic changes in their mood swings, cycling between one and then the other rapidly?


• Are they skipping out on medications or failing to take them at all?

While all of these are not exclusively signs of elder self-neglect, they are still a good baseline as to what to be aware of. If you determine that your senior loved one may be experiencing elder self-neglect, it may be time to reach out for help. As a primary caregiver, it is normal to want to do everything alone and shoulder the responsibility yourself. Check with their health care provider to see what help is available.