Elder Self-Neglect — How Can a Physician Help?

Elder self-neglect: research and practice

Elder self-neglect is a global public health and human rights issue that threatens older people's health and safety. It commonly refers to refusal or failure to provide oneself with care and protection in areas of food, water, clothing, hygiene, medication, living environments, and safety precautions. While prevalent, the status of self-neglecting individuals remains largely unclear, in particu...

Capacity Determinations and Elder Self-Neglect.

We recently published an article in this journal on the determination of decision-making capacity in the case of a 55-year-old patient suffering from complicated grief who refuses treatment for stage II breast carcinoma that reviews the principal literature and discusses approaches clinicians can use in assessing capacity [1]. Here, we respond to reader correspondence and expand further on the ...

Self-injury behavior: how can nurses help?

Although historical, religious, and cultural examples provide some understanding of SIB, the importance of further research, especially in adolescent SIB, cannot be underestimated. Nursing research is needed to explore the correlation between SIB and the spiritual needs of adolescents. Shannon (2005) stated that SIB is a common precursor to suicide. If adolescents at risk for this behavior are ...

Progress in medical ethics: how the physician can help.

Elder abuse and neglect: what physicians can and should do.

Although reports of elder abuse to official agencies have been steadily increasing, physicians report only 2% of reported cases. Multiple barriers to reporting exist. This article reviews the terminology, epidemiology, and clinical signs associated with elder abuse in the community and offers practical strategies for intervention.