Self-neglect among older adults admitted to a Chinese comprehensive hospital in the COVID-19 pandemic era: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Journal of elder abuse & neglect Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 241 - 258
• Main Authors: Xu, Liuqing, Sun, Hongyu, Xu, Huan, Chen, Xiufang, Xu, Qiongying, Jiang, Hao, Ren, Liya, Wang, Yuxin, Dong, Chaoqun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Routledge 08.08.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Children; COVID-19; COVID-19 pandemic; Cross-sectional studies; older adults; Older people; Pandemics; Quality of life; Resilience; risk factors; self-neglect; Social support; China
• ISSN: 0894-6566; 1540-4129
• DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2022.2095319

This study aims to explore the prevalence of self-neglect and associated factors among older adults admitted to the hospital in the COVID-19 pandemic context. The cross-sectional study conducted at a Chinese comprehensive hospital between January and April 2021, 452 older adults were recruited to complete the Abrams Geriatric Self-Neglect Scale, Social Support Rate Scale, FRAIL scale, Barthel index, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the factors associated with elder self-neglect. The results showed that the prevalence of self-neglect among our sample was 30.3%. Factors that were associated with the risk of elder self-neglect included male, having multiple children (≥4), receiving infrequent visits from children, frailty, and depression. There is a need to screen for self-neglect among older adults admitted to the hospital in the COVID-19 pandemic context. Tailored interventions are warranted to improve the quality of life of older adults.