While many seniors experience physical, emotional and financial neglect at the hands of individuals, seniors with dementia may neglect their own needs. The senior with dementia is not aware of their own needs and how to meet them. They may forget to prepare food for themselves, forget to bath, forget how it feels to be hungry or may not know how to keep themselves clean if they are unable to control their bowels or bladder. Seniors must be watched to see that they do not experience weight loss due to the absence of food or forgetting to eat. Earlier there was the discussion about weight loss and the adverse effects on the muscles leading to weakness and falls. Substantial weight loss is also a great risk factor poor wellbeing for the senior. Seniors may eat food that is spoiled or that has been sitting out for days because of inability to recognize hazards.
If a senior is neglecting themselves, it is essential that the community advocate for the safety of the senior. The Agency of Aging in the State or community can be contacted to provide for a safe environment for the senior. Sometimes it is the family who is not attentive to the needs of the senior allowing the senior to self neglect. These situations should be reported to senior services in the community or to the police.