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Elder abuse, neglect may cause death

When seniors stop taking proper care of themselves their risk for death increases nearly sixfold, a new study shows.

Elder abuse, neglect may cause death

When seniors stop taking proper care of themselves their risk for death increases nearly sixfold, a new study shows. In addition, elderly people who are abused physically, emotionally, financially or through withdrawal of care don't fare much better; their risk for dying being more than double.

Self-neglect by elders and their abuse are serious, common, and underrecognized public health issues. Abuse can include physical or sexual abuse, confinement, emotional abuse, caregiver neglect, deprivation or financial exploitation. Abuse can be harder to detect, but any unexplained bruises or sudden change in doctors could be clues.

The inability to care for oneself, which characterises self-neglect, can include failing to provide adequate food, water, clothing, shelter and necessary medications and not following basic hygiene practices. A sudden change in weight, hygiene, or worsening medical conditions, such as being more short of breath, are clues that people might be neglecting themselves. 

Researchers in America studied 9,318 adults, older than 65 years of age, to examine the relationship between elder self-neglect or abuse reported to social service agencies with all-cause mortality among a community dwelling elderly population. They collected the data to account for numerous factors - such as medical conditions, socioeconomic status, health habits and memory.

During the study period, from 1993 to 2005, social service agencies received reports of self-neglect on 1,544 of the participants, and 113 were reported as being abused. During about seven years of follow-up, 4,306 of the participants died.

A strong association was found between abuse and self-neglect and the risk for premature death in elderly. Self-neglect was associated with 6 times increased risk for mortality in the year after a report of self-neglect. For abused seniors, the chance that they would die in the year after the abuse was reported was more than twice as great as it was for seniors who were not abused.

Though people often associate dementia or Alzheimer's disease with self-neglect but it was not just the cognitively impaired who were affected, even more capable seniors face a higher risk of premature death from self-neglect.

The researchers suggested that anyone who suspects that an older family member, neighbour or friend is being abused or might be self-neglecting need to report those suspicions. The study may help in developing relevant clinical, social, and policy guidelines to treat and prevent elder self-neglect and abuse.
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