Zawisa et al reported a number of scales for identifying self-neglect in an older adult. One scale measures objective evidence based on physical appearance. The authors are from Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, Poland.
Patient selection: >= 65 years or older
Parameters:
(1) dirty or matted hair/beard
(2) dirty or uncut nails
(3) dirty clothes
(4) unpleasant body smell
(5) signs of malnutrition
(6) lice
(7) poor condition of teeth
(8) presence of ulcerative wounds
|
Parameter |
Response |
Points |
|
dirty or matted hair |
not at all |
0 |
|
|
present to a small extent |
7 |
|
|
present to a moderate extent |
12 |
|
|
present to a high extent |
17 |
|
|
present to a very high extent |
20 |
|
dirty or uncut nails |
not at all |
0 |
|
|
present to a small extent |
8 |
|
|
present to a moderate extent |
14 |
|
|
present to a high extent |
19 |
|
|
present to a very high extent |
20 |
|
dirty clothes |
not at all |
0 |
|
|
present to a small extent |
9 |
|
|
present to a moderate extent |
13 |
|
|
present to a high extent |
17 |
|
|
present to a very high extent |
21 |
|
unpleasant body smell |
not at all |
0 |
|
|
present to a small extent |
8 |
|
|
present to a moderate extent |
10 |
|
|
present to a high extent |
13 |
|
|
present to a very high extent |
14 |
|
signs of malnutrition |
not at all |
0 |
|
|
present to a small extent |
3 |
|
|
present to a moderate extent |
4 |
|
|
present to a high extent |
5 |
|
|
present to a very high extent |
6 |
|
lice |
not at all |
0 |
|
|
present to a small extent |
1 |
|
|
present to a moderate extent |
2 |
|
|
present to a high extent |
3 |
|
|
present to a very high extent |
4 |
|
poor condition of teeth |
not at all |
0 |
|
|
present to a small extent |
3 |
|
|
present to a moderate extent |
4 |
|
|
present to a high extent |
6 |
|
|
present to a very high extent |
7 |
|
ulcerative wounds |
not at all |
0 |
|
|
present to a small extent |
5 |
|
|
present to a moderate extent |
6 |
|
|
present to a high extent |
7 |
|
|
present to a very high extent |
8 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 100
• The higher the score the greater the risk of self-neglect.
