We had a patient in a room during an emergency department shift, this patient had recently been discharged for non-compliance from a local nursing and rehab facility. They had been seen in our ED just days before and were here for the 2nd time in two days. The patient had arrived after having been sitting at home with no one to care for her for more than 72 hours. The patient was covered in her own feces and other bodily fluids. 

The patient also had severe wounds on both legs that had not been cared for in some time. The patient continued to comment about how they felt they were a burden and was very apologetic. She had not been bathed in an extended period of time, her hair was a matted and ratty mess. There was a team of us that took the time to clean her up, give her a bed bath, dress her wounds, etc. Most importantly, Alicia, while we were continuing care for the patient, washed her hair and spent her time as charge nurse brushing out the patient's hair and braiding it for her. This process was time-consuming, but by the unkept look the patient had, it was apparent she had not been well cared for. She stated that after she left the hospital the previous visit, her family left her to her own devices.