06/13/2026
June is Month - let’s talk about “self-neglect” and what it looks like💙
Neglecting an older, vulnerable adult under your care is a form of elder abuse. But some seniors who live independently can fall into self-neglect, often due to dementia, mental illness, addiction, or becoming physically frail.
Self-Neglect happens when vulnerable adults fail to care for their own basic needs such as safe housing, appropriate medical care, adequate food and water, and personal hygiene.
Here are some common signs to look out for:
✅Living in a hoarded or hazardous home
✅Living in a home without proper utilities like water, heat, electricity (unpaid bills)
✅Inadequate food or drinking water
✅Increased social isolation / withdrawal
✅Living with unmet medical needs, untreated illnesses or injuries
✅Failing to care for their pets
✅Failing to care for their own personal hygiene or safety
✅Deteriorating mental or physical state (memory loss, dementia, addiction, mental illness, or a physical limitation that keeps them from being able to care for themselves properly)
For more information on how to help an elder in Idaho, check out Idaho Commission on Aging
https://aging.idaho.gov/adult-protective-services/
https://www.a3ssa.com/programs_and_services/stay-safe/
