Self-neglect is when a person is unable, or unwilling, to care for their own essential needs.
It can cover a wide range of behaviour including neglecting personal hygiene, health or surroundings, refusal of necessary support and obsessive hoarding.
This type of behaviour has serious implications for the health and wellbeing of the person concerned and for the people who care for and support them.
Some examples can include:
- lack of self-care to an extent that it threatens personal health and safety
- neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings
- inability to avoid harm because of self-neglect
- failure to seek help or access services to meet health and social care needs
- inability or unwillingness to manage one’s personal affairs.