Renfrewshire Council

Neglect can have a serious and damaging effect on a person and it shouldn't be underestimated.

Neglect is harmful but not all neglect is deliberate. It sometimes happens because a carer can't cope or is not getting enough help.

Neglect can often be detected by looking at a person's physical, social or health circumstances.

Signs that someone is being neglected include:

• Dirt, or a smell of urine or faeces
• Rashes, sores, or lice on the person
• Not enough clothing
• The person is malnourished or dehydrated
• The person has a medical condition that isn't being treated
• The person isn't being washed or shaved and possibly smells
• There is evidence that the person isn't being given medicine they need or they are being given too much
• There is evidence that not enough help is being given with eating and drinking
• The place where the person is living is dirty and possibly unhealthy

Sometimes a person may choose to live in a way that may look like they are neglecting themselves. There is a difference between choosing a way to live and neglect.

This is one area where it can be challenging to support or protect adults at risk of harm if they are capable of making a deliberate decision to live in a certain way but that other people might think is harmful. This doesn't mean you shouldn't pass on your concerns. It is still important.