Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 1) | Página 68

Older Persons and Neglect

determination. This raises the issue of who makes the decision for an older
family member to stay at home or enter residential care. In some cases, choices
about where to live were restricted by decisions made by family members
for reasons that were not in the best interests of the client. Sometimes the
client may elect to stay in a neglecting situation. Older people have the
right to self-determination. While not ideal, sometimes what is needed is to
find ways to support a client who chooses to remain in a non-ideal situation.
It is understandable for some who face neglect to be reluctant to change
living arrangements for fear of being alone or because of the desire not to
disadvantage their family member, for example by depriving them of access
to the family home. The family member may also be the only person they feel
they can call on for assistance with care or their only source of social contact.
Limited social networks and isolation is often a feature in situations of neglect.
In such situations, it is helpful to have services that aim to reduce isolation,
such as befriending services for older people.

In Conclusion
These are some areas that social workers should stay current on and equip
themselves in when working with older persons facing neglect. Good
training, support and supervision for those working with cases of neglect
are important. It is also necessary for workers to be equipped to inform and
assist with instituting the powers of attorney in the Mental Capacity Act.
A range of commonly recognised risk factors for abuse or neglect include
social isolation; carer stress; physical or mental impairment or disability;
dependency (of the older person on their carer or of the carer on the older
person); dysfunctional family dynamics (including a history of family violence);
and presence of alcohol, drug or gambling addictions. It is clear that for some
people emotional and physical abuse occurs alongside neglect. As we have a
growing ageing population, we need to establish a rich source of information
to increase knowledge about both abuse and neglect here to better inform
policy development, service provision (both intervention and prevention
activity) and social change.
19th November 2014
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