Silent exhaustion: The intersection of quality of life and self-neglect in the elderly.

The study was conducted to examine the effect of quality of life on self-neglect levels in elderly individuals and to answer whether this differs according to socio-demographic characteristics and whether it affects social, physical, mental and environmental health neglect variables. The study was designed as a descriptive correlational research with a quantitative design. Data were collected from 204 elderly people who answered a 10-question Socio-demographic Information Form, a 13-question "Quality of Life Scale for the Elderly" and a 60-question "Self-Neglect Scale in the Elderly" which were developed based on literature. While the intensity of physical health and mental health neglect differed among those with chronic diseases, social network neglect differed between those with chronic diseases and those living alone (p < 0.05). Negative significant correlations were found between quality of life and social network (r=-0.62), physical health (r=-0.70), environmental health (r=-0.65) and mental health (r=-0.68) neglect (p < 0.05). In the study, quality of life explained 38 % of social network neglect, 49 % of physical health neglect, 42 % of environmental health neglect, and 46 % of mental health neglect, a significant relationship was found between them. In line with these results, the relationship between quality of life and self-neglect reflects the physical, mental, social, and environmental conditions of older adults. Self-neglect often arises as a result of poor quality of life and can lead to individuals being unable to meet their basic care needs, social isolation, and health problems. In this context, holistic and multidisciplinary approaches should be adopted at the individual, societal, and systemic levels.