Background
From a public health standpoint, elder self-neglect is the most compelling form of elder mistreatment which includes physical abuse, caregiver and self-neglect and financial exploitation. Self-neglect, the inability to provide for oneself the goods or services to meet basic needs, is three times more common than physical abuse or caregiver neglect. Self-neglectors are vulnerable persons who have multiple deficits in a variety of social, functional and physical domains. It is the most commonly reported form of mistreatment; and an independent risk factor for death. The death rate for self-neglectors is two times that of persons never reported to adult protective services.
The Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute at Baylor College of Medicine is the first state adult protective services-medical school collaboration in the United States. TEAM has one of the largest direct care experiences with mistreated elders and is involved in a number of clinical, education and research projects. TEAM and other faculty from multiple BCM departments are forming a consortium to include the University of Houston Schools of Social Work, and the University of Texas Schools of Nursing and Public Health, the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and NASA called the Consortium for Research in Elder Self-neglect of Texas or CREST.