What type of neglect involves a lack of intention to harm?

Passive neglect refers to a situation where a caregiver fails to provide adequate care or support to an elderly person, but this lack of care is not due to a malicious intent to cause harm. Instead, passive neglect often arises from ignorance, incapacity, or lack of awareness regarding the needs of the individual being cared for. This distinction is essential in understanding the nuances of neglect in elder care, as it highlights that sometimes neglect can stem from unintentional oversights rather than deliberate actions.

In contrast, active neglect involves deliberate actions or decisions that result in harm or failure to provide necessary care, while self-neglect refers to an individual’s failure to meet their own needs, often due to physical or mental health issues. Intermittent neglect occurs when care is erratically provided, which may or may not imply intent, but typically does not fit the profile of negligence occurring without harmful intention. Hence, passive neglect is correctly identified as the type of neglect that involves a lack of intention to harm.