title: Adult protective services clients confirmed for self-neglect: characteristics and service use.
abstract: Self-neglect is a complex and inadequately understood phenomenon that accounts for the majority of Adult Protective Services cases. This retrospective, record-based study of the characteristics of 210 older adults who were reported to Adult Protective Services and confirmed for self-neglect revealed that common health problems included nutritional frailty, arthritis, and incontinence. Comparisons based upon length of service showed differences in worker-rated social environment risk, client capacity, and activities of daily living performance. Comparisons of findings with those of other studies of self-neglect underscore the need for systematic research on this population.
authors: Department of Sociology and Social Work, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, USA. ernst@hood.edu
authors: Joy Swanson
authors: JS
authors: Ernst
authors: Charles A
authors: CA
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult