Rather than involving willful neglect of oneself, professionals define "self-neglected" elderly as being unable, because of depleted personal or social resources, to care for themselves. The term stems from a concern to ensure that elderly persons are protected from harm, especially when that harm is due to their failing abilities. This study compares the elderly receiving services for self-neglect with those receiving service for maltreatment by others. The most important finding of this study is the association between living alone and self-neglect. Even when the elderly live alone, other factors trigger the likelihood of becoming involved in an elder abuse service system. In particular, elderly with mental illness, drug and alcohol problems, and dementia will most likely come to the attention of service providers. From the qualitative data, being socially isolated from family, either having none or being estranged from family, also plays an important part in the need for service. Very old, male, and white clients are significantly more likely to enter the system for self-neglect. Having medical problems and experiencing a life-threatening incident is also related to service use for self-neglect. 16 references