Spotting neglect
Neglect is where the vulnerable person isn't being looked after properly, by a lack of food, company or personal care, for example.
It could be:
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someone regularly leaving the person for long periods of time or abandoning them
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someone not helping them to access food, warmth, medication or medicines
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someone not helping them to go to the toilet or wash
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someone not helping them to get what they need from the health, social care or education services
Some of the tell-tales signs of abuse can include:
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ulcers, bedsores or other symptoms of poor care
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neglected, old or inappropriate clothing
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unexplained weight loss
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carers stopping health professionals or visitors going to see the person
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not being allowed to have access to communication aids such as glasses or hearing aids
The situation
Bernard can't move around much and is reliant on his family and his carers to feed him and look after his bathing and toilet needs.
He has been losing weight and has the wrong type of clothes on when he goes outside. Sometimes he's left outside buildings by his carer for a long time. His flat isn't very clean.
What happened next?
A neighbour rang the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership with their concerns. The safeguarding team were very helpful and arranged a referral to social services.
What happened in the end?
A social worker went to see Bernard at his home. Although he loves his family very much, Bernard admitted that he needed more help. A carer was arranged to visit him once a day to help with meals and personal tasks.