Elder Law

Elder Self-Neglect and Abuse linked to Increased Risk of Dying

By Levin & Perconti

Elderly self-neglect is associated with a nearly six-fold increase in the risk of dying within a year. Elder self-neglect and abuse are serious, common and under recognized. There are an estimated 2 million cases of elder self-neglect and abuse in the United States. When elderly persons threatens their own health and safety by refusing to adequately feed, shelter or clothe themselves they are committing elder self-neglect. The Chicago Health and Aging Project created a report saying that of the 1,544 participants in a 9,000 study were guilty of elder self-neglect and 113 participants were reported for elder abuse. Participants with reported or confirmed self-neglect had a one-year mortality rate of 246.36 deaths per 100 person-years and mortality for participants after one year was 9.46 per 100 person-years. This is compared to a mortality rate of 5.01 deaths per 100 persons-years for participants who did not report self neglect. Self neglect is also a marker for increased mortality regardless of cognitive or physical function. The authors of the study suggest that high-functioning elders might be more capable of recognizing elder abuse and seeking help to end such abuse. To read more about the elder study, please click the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on August 14, 2009 (boomark / email).