Neglect and acts of omission

Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet the needs of an adult. Risk of neglect is greater when an adult is dependent on another adult because of age or disability.

Neglect can cause long-term damage to a person’s health and can lead to serious physical or emotional harm, including death.

The types of neglect and acts of omission include:

• Failure to provide or allow access to food, shelter, clothing, heating, stimulation and activity, personal or medical care
• Providing care in a way that the person dislikes
• Failure to administer medication as prescribed
• Refusal of access to visitors
• Not taking account of individuals’ cultural, religious or ethnic needs
• Not taking account of educational, social and recreational needs
• Ignoring or isolating the person
• Preventing the person from making their own decisions
• Preventing access to glasses, hearing aids, dentures, etc.
• Failure to ensure privacy and dignity.

Possible signs of neglect and acts of omission

• Poor environment – dirty or unhygienic
• Poor physical condition and/or personal hygiene
• Pressure sores or ulcers
• Malnutrition or unexplained weight loss
• Untreated injuries and medical problems
• Inconsistent or reluctant contact with medical and social care organisations
• Accumulation of untaken medication
• Uncharacteristic failure to engage in social interaction
• Inappropriate or inadequate clothing.

For advice and support:

If you have experienced neglect or you suspect that someone you know has experienced neglect, you can contact 01375 511 000 or Thurrock.First@thurrock.gov.uk

Worried about an adult? 01375 511000

Our Resources

Quick Links

Contact Us

Thurrock Council,
Civic Offices
New Road
Grays
Essex
RM17 6SL

Telephone

Telephone
01375 659713

Connect With Us

To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.

The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.

The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.