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: 

  • don’t let people help you when you need them to  
  • don’t see a doctor, nurse or dentist when you need to
  • don’t take your medicines properly
  • don’t ask 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 
  • don’t eat or drink enough to stay healthy 
  • eat too much unhealthy food 
  • drink too much alcohol or use illegal drugs 
  • don’t keep yourself and your clothes clean 
  • don’t wear the right clothes for the weather, so you are too hot, too cold, or get wet 
  • don’t keep 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 
  • have too many pets or you don’t clean up their pooh - this can make you ill  
  • drink too much alcohol or use illegal drugs 
  • don’t pay your bills on time – your gas and electric might be cut off and you won’t have heating or hot water