Final answer:
Failing to provide necessary items for health and safety is known as neglect. This might occur in various contexts, including with vulnerable infants who rely entirely on their caregivers, or with the elderly who may be subject to neglect from their caretakers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Failing to provide something necessary for health and safety, such as food, medicine, shelter, or personal care is known as neglect. This term is used to describe situations where the individual responsible for caregiving fails to meet the essential needs of someone who cannot provide for themselves, especially in the context of children and the elderly. Instances of neglect can arise from various underlying issues which might include cultural values, standards of care, and socioeconomic factors. For example, infants are particularly vulnerable and dependent on parents for complete care. Negligence towards their needs can result in child welfare interventions.
Similarly, the elderly population is susceptible to forms of elder abuse, and when a caretaker fails to provide the necessary care, it constitutes neglect. This can occur in numerous settings and may involve family members, health professionals, or nursing care employees. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) classifies this failure to act as neglect and provides guidelines to recognize signs and symptoms of such abuse.