Barriers to neglect and self-neglect research.

Neglect is proportionally the largest category for adult protective services referrals, yet there is a dearth of science that generates appropriate guidelines for the detection and intervention of neglect cases. Despite implementation of mandatory reporting laws and models for appropriate responding to elder neglect, there remain challenges to research in this field. These challenges include diagnosis, recruitment, retention, attrition, research language, obtaining informed consent, and many other obstacles that impede the progression of research in elder self-neglect. Despite these impediments, much-needed research continues, and new ways of addressing these challenges are being developed.