Self-Neglect In Sociology

The main issues of public concern are centred on the abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults - whether they are elderly, people with disabilities, those suffering from dementia or other mental health problems.

Sociology is the scientific study of all social interactions, human behavior, culture and social solidarity. The area of study varies from crime, social class, race, gender, group interactions, culture, and religion just to name a few. The renowned sociologist C. Wright Mills created the term the sociological imagination which interprets how larger social power affects are personal experiences. All social interrelationships can be clarified through sociological terms such as this. We can examine movies, books and music through the study of sociology, since in most forms of entertainment we can relate to the story line.

In this assignment you will demonstrate your understanding of safeguarding adults. You will describe different types of abuse, the signs and symptoms associated with them and what to do if you are aware of or suspect an individual has been abused or you note unsafe practice. You will research failings in care services and explore how best practice can help to keep individuals safe. You will also identify the range of people who may be involved with safeguarding, along with the policies and procedures that govern best safeguarding practice.

Self-Neglect: Self-neglect is a behavioral condition in which an individual neglects to attend to their basic needs, such as personal hygiene, appropriate clothing, feeding, or tending appropriately to any medical conditions they have. Extreme self-neglect can be known as Diogenes syndrome. (5.1.1)

Neglect by others occurs when either a support worker or a family or friend carer fails to meet someone’s support needs as they do not realise its importance, or because they cannot be bothered, or choose not to provide it.

The concept of Safeguarding is related to vulnerable adults and it means protecting their rights to live in safety, be free from abuse and neglect. The main purpose of this is to prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect with care and support needs. And also, to stop abuse and neglect wherever possible. Any response to a safeguarding issue should be dealt with with care, sensitivity and proportionality to the incident. A vulnerable adult is defined as an individual aged 18 or above who depends on others for assistance with their basic functions or who has a severe impairment in their ability to protect themselves from abuse, assault or neglect.

This can be the product of both ineffective and/or punitive management styles, creating an environment within which abuse can take place, intentional or otherwise.   It could include situations where there are significant numbers of low level, or other, concerns affecting more than one adult and concerns that the systems, processes and / or management of these may be failing to safeguard a number of adults leaving them at risk of harm or significant harm. Being made to follow what individuals think you should follow, set meal times, set bedtimes, freedom restricted, excessive or inappropriate doses of sedation/medication given, personal correspondence being opened by staff.Self Neglect Self-neglect is any failure of an adult to take care of themselves that causes, or is reasonably likely to cause within a short period of time, serious physical, mental or emotional harm or substantial damage to or loss of assets. Self-neglect can happen as a result of an individual 's choice of lifestyle, or the person may be depressed, have poor health, have cognitive (memory or decision making) problems, or be physically unable to care for self. Self-neglect can includeLiving in grossly unsanitary conditions, suffering from an untreated illness, disease or injury, suffering

The legislation that governs adult social care is embedded within the Care Act 2014 (CA). Prior to the CA self-neglect was not a safeguarding issue, only neglect involving a perpetrator; self-neglect is now clearly separated into neglect and added as a distinct category of abuse within the CA. The CA covers a range of self-neglect behaviours such as health, personal hygiene, environment and hoarding and all behaviours are now guided under Safeguarding adult’s procedures, CA (2014) and Safeguarding Adults Boards (SAB) and Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SAR) where death of SN has occurred (Braye el al. 2015?). Now it is legal to invoke a Section 42 enquiry if we suspect or have evidence that 1) Amy needs care and support 2) the adult is at risk of abuse of neglect 3) as a result is unable to protect themselves from the risk of abuse or neglect, Section 42 of the Care Act 2014. A Section 42 enquiry is dependent on whether the Amy is unable to protect herself.

Neglect has been described as the “most serious type of child maltreatment and the least understood” (Crittenden 1999: 67). It is the most common reason for inclusion on the child protection register in the UK. In the year ending 31st March 2006, 43 per cent of child protection registrations in England related to children considered to be at risk of neglect (Source: DfES, 2006)

Research identifies physical abuse (e.g. beatings, restraint), psychological abuse (e.g. withdrawal or care and food) and neglect (e.g. leaving service users in soiled incontinence pads) as the most common types of abuse in a care home, also the misuse of medication. So the aims of the act are to help protect vulnerable adults in a care home from these types of abuse.

Self-neglect is any failure of an adult to take care of themselves that causes or is reasonable to cause serious physical, mental or emotional harm or substantial damage to or loss of possessions. This self-neglect can be caused as a result of the adults choice of lifestyle or as a result of depression or poor health.

Self-neglect/Neglect is when a person/carer does not pay attention to their/service users health and well-being. Service users/Carers can neglect themselves/Service users due to illness or depression or might intentionally neglect themselves/service users. The signs and symptoms include: living in dirty conditions, poor personal hygiene, poor nutrition, not getting medical help, not being interested in the way they look, long toe nails not taking medication.

Sociology is the study of social life and the change and consequences of human behavior. Human behavior is social in nature, the topic of sociology ranges from divisions of race, gender and sociology of work and sports. In my opinion, sociology is one of the few fields which have such a broad scope and relevance for breadth, depth and application.

Within the care sector there are many individuals who rely and depend on the help and support of others such as nurses, social workers and support workers. When this level of trust and responsibility exists it is important that these individuals are able to feel safe and confident and not at risk to abuse. It is therefore our responsibility as carers to ensure there are safeguarding procedures in place to protect all individuals from any form of abuse at all times.

After reviewing the article titles given for this first assignment, I believe they indicate that Sociology, generally speaking, is not only a study of diversity or commonality in traits among people; it is also a science about factors in a person’s life and how these factors culminate responses. Interestingly enough, its topics of concern seem to be directly determined by current and common events of the world. Through the invention and expansion of new ideas, popular trends and fashions through time, Sociology adapts to responsibly to service the very subjects of interest it studies; for, even the slightest change of a person’s daily experience can have an insurmountable impact on attitude, personal growth, family