Community / Looking out for signs of neglect
A CALL has gone out by the chair of the Shetland Protection Committee Tam Baillie for the public to look out for signs of neglect among vulnerable adults in the community.
As adult support and protection awareness day is marked today (Monday) Baillie said being alert to signs of someone struggling and sharing one’s concern is the right thing to do.
The awareness day aims to draw attention to the risk of neglect, self-neglect, self-harm, physical, psychological, financial or sexual harm for some adults who may be unable to safeguard themselves.
Across Scotland, the number of people referred to adult support and protection is steadily rising – a trend that is also reflected in Shetland.
Locally, 275 adult support and protection referrals were received between April 2021 to March 2022.
Baillie said most harm to adults is taking place in peoples’ own homes.
“It’s sometimes hard to see when someone is struggling to manage, or you might feel you don’t want to interfere,” he said.
“Yet we know that in our close-knit communities, people keep an eye out for each other and sharing your concern is the right thing to do and can be the trigger for support to be offered.
“Harm can happen anywhere: in someone’s home, where they work, in a public place – often caused by the people closest to them.”
Neglect is when someone is not being cared for properly, either by themselves or by someone responsible for them.
A neglected person may not have enough food to eat, be living somewhere that’s cold, dirty or unsafe, or they may not be appropriately dressed or might not seem to have washed recently.
They may be being denied the important medical and social care that would keep them safe and well.
Baillie added: “Right now, many people are finding it even more difficult, and the cost of living crisis is making already challenging situations worse, especially for those people who may be living on their own or in need of additional support.
“In Shetland, we are geared up and committed to responding to adults needing additional support and providing it when it is needed.”
Baillie said anybody who is worried that someone isn’t taking care of themselves or those they look after should in the first instance call duty social work on 01595 744468 (or 01595 695611 during out of office hours) or, in an emergency situation, contact Police Scotland on 999.
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