The meaning of elder self-neglect: social workers' perspective

• Published in: International journal of aging & human development Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 17 - 36
• Main Authors: Doron, Israel, Band-Winterstein, Tova, Naim, Sigal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-01-2013; Baywood
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - psychology; Adult. Elderly; Aged; Aging - psychology; Attitude of Health Personnel; Biological and medical sciences; Checklist; Developmental psychology; Discourse; Elder Abuse - psychology; Elderly; Emotions; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human Rights; Humans; Hygiene; Ideologies; Intervention; Israel; Knowledge; Life Style; Male; Methodology (Data Collection); Professional-Patient Relations; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social Alienation - psychology; Social Distance; Social Values; Social Work; Social Workers; Treatment Refusal - psychology; Israel; Human; Social worker; Elderly
• ISSN: 0091-4150; 1541-3535
• DOI: 10.2190/AG.77.1.b

Aims:
To explore the unique aspects of the elder self-neglect phenomenon and to achieve phenomenological understanding of self-neglect through the eyes of professional social workers.
Method:
A qualitative study based on a sample of 14 certified social workers. Data collection was performed through in-depth semi-structured interviews, followed by content analysis.
Findings:
Three major themes emerged from the participants: (1) “How can you live like that?” self-neglect as an unsolved riddle; (2) “It's very difficult for me, I go outside and immediately start thinking about myself”: the personal burden; and (3) “I keep trying”: seeking intervention strategies following the refusal to accept assistance.
Discussion & Conclusions:
Social workers' direct involvement with the self-neglecting elders poses a very significant ethical, personal, and professional challenge. In this context, there is a need to impart tools for “solving the riddle” to social workers through self-reflection, improvement of knowledge, theory, and empirical findings regarding the conceptualization and understanding of the self-neglect phenomenon. Moreover, it may be that adopting a clearer ethical “ideology,” which is rooted in a discourse of human rights, could assist social workers to reconcile their tensions and difficulties in providing assistance to older, self-neglected persons.