World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: What you should know, do to prevent abuse of the elderly

Did you know 6 out of every 10 elderly face physical or mental abuse in India? Across the globe, the prevalence of elderly abuse reaches 90 per cent! Helpage India’s latest survey report says the abuse could be physical violence, neglect, verbal abuse or disrespect. Yet, most of it goes unreported.Following are the five things you should know about abuse on the elderly.There are seven types of elderly abuse: neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment of the elderly, emotional or psychological abuse, financial abuse, and even self-neglect.India has about 16 per cent elderly women facing abuse. This is mostly in the form of physical violence followed by disrespect and psychological abuse, says Helpage India’s report.What’s unfortunate is that of the total abuse cases of the elderly, 35% are by their sons and 21% by their daughters-in-law.Why are elders abused? In some cases, it emanates from being dependent on their children. In others it’s because of their children’s high stress levels, addiction to alcohol or just having an abusive style of interaction.Who are most likely to abuse the elderly? It’s the trusted family members who are more likely to abuse. Adult children, spouses of children, and even grandchildren can abuse the elderly. It’s be found in all age groups, socioeconomic groups, races and genders.What can we do at our level to stop elderly abuse?· Listen to older adults and their caregivers to understand their challenges and provide support.· Report abuse or suspected abuse to the police.· Learn how the signs of elder abuse differ from the normal aging process.· Check-in on older adults who may have few friends and family members.(The thumbnail image is only for representational purposes.)Voice: Meher KhuranaAudio Production: Shantanu Nanoti