References
Clinical implications of self-neglect among patients in community settings
Abstract
The consequences of self-neglect can be wide-reaching and devastating, not only for patients themselves but also for their wider community, including assisting health practitioners and social care staff. Supporting patients in the context of self-neglect requires extensive multi-agency collaboration in order to gain a full understanding and a workable management strategy for the individual. Because community nurses see patients in their own homes, they are well placed to identify and address self-neglect. This article explores the definition, signs and causes of self-neglect, with issues of particular relevance for community nursing staff. The understanding and assessment of mental capacity, which is often complex and challenging, is also discussed, as well as the involvement of the safeguarding team where necessary.
According to Day and McCarthy (2015), self-neglect is a serious and complex public health issue that is poorly understood and under-recognised globally. It is difficult to ascertain the prevalence of self-neglect, as cases tend to be under-reported. Community nurses have a key role to play in identifying vulnerable patients and those who are at risk of self-neglect (Day et al, 2015). Within the role of the community nurse, there are many situations in which self-neglect has been highlighted by other agencies, including care staff, as well as family, neighbours and other members of the public. From a review of the research, most information regarding self-neglect is sourced within the social care literature, highlighting limited research from a nursing perspective in the UK. Although research on self-neglect is limited in the UK, Serious Adult Reviews (SARs), which involved self-neglect, can be very informative and can be used as an evidence base to guide clinical practice.
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