These and many other problems may be traced back to the same root problem. That problem is the absence of mental capacity. A person with memory problems may forget to pay the bills and have utilities cut off. A person who is extremely paranoid may withdraw from friends and relatives and lose touch with reality. A confused mental state may result in neglecting medical needs or nutrition. A person who is mentally incapacitated needs a guardian to serve as surrogate decision-maker.

     Persons referred to GSI are frequently victims of  abuse, neglect or exploitation. Sometimes clients are being physically abused by caregivers who hit them, withhold food or verbally strike out at them. Other clients lose their Social Security checks to family members or friends who take their money and leave them with inadequate resources to pay for basic living needs. The most common form of mistreatment in GSI's elderly clients is neglect. Either the caregiver fails to provide for the needs of the elderly individual or the older adult gradually loses the capacity to take care of the activities of daily living and suffers neglect.