The Devil is in the Details: Self-Neglect in Australia

ABSTRACT

Although elder self-neglect is of significant concern to adult protective service (APS) workers in the United States, minimal research has been conducted on this topic in Australia. Using qualitative research methods, this article examines how 24 Australian professionals understand situations of self-neglect. Unlike in the United States, where the term self-neglect is used in a broad and all-encompassing manner, participants in this research differentiated among self-neglect (the neglect of self), squalor (extreme neglect of environment), collecting (the accumulation of certain objects), and hoarding (the inability to throw objects away). It is argued that separating out the various behaviors that are classified under the broad umbrella of neglect can be useful in fostering reflective interventions in these situations.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-neglect
• Australia
• definition
• squalor
• hoarding
• hygiene
• self-care

The author is grateful for the invaluable comments provided by Dr. Mark Hughes throughout the preparation of this manuscript.