Everyone is different, and free to make choices about how they live, but self-neglect can happen if you don’t look after yourself properly or don’t let people help you to be safe and healthy. If you self-neglect you can be in danger of harm or get very ill. Sadly, some people have died because of self-neglect.
Self-neglect might happen if:
- you choose to not look after yourself properly
- you don’t know, or forget, how to look after yourself properly, or
- something happens in your life that changes how you feel about keeping safe and healthy
Self-neglect might happen if you:
- aren't letting people help you when you need them to
- aren't seeing a doctor, nurse or dentist when you need to
- aren't taking your medicines properly
- aren't asking for help when you need it to do things like cooking, washing, using the toilet or getting out of bed
- do things that you know aren’t good for you, or put you at risk of harm and danger
- hurt yourself on purpose
- aren't eating or drinking enough to stay healthy
- eat too much unhealthy food
- drink too much alcohol or use illegal drugs
- aren't keeping yourself and your clothes clean
- aren't wearing the right clothes for the weather, so you are too hot, too cold, or get wet
- aren't keeping your home clean, tidy and safe – you could have an accident
- store lots of things unsafely in your home – this is called hoarding and it might cause a fire or you could have an accident - more information: Hoarding disorder - NHS
- have too many pets or you don’t clean up their pooh - this can make you ill
- aren't paying your bills on time – your gas and electric might be cut off and you won’t have heating or hot water